Chennai: In a major setback to the Tamil Nadu Government, which has steadfastly been opposing the National Eligibility and Entrance Test (NEET), the Madras High Court on Monday dismissed its petition challenging single judge order quashing the provision of 85 per cent reservation in the Government quota of UG medical seats to students from State Board.

Justice Nooty Ramamohana Rao and Justice M Dhandapani observed the appeal filed by the State do not have merits.

A single judge of the court recently quashed Government Order that reserved 85 per cent of MBBS/BDS seats for State Board students, while limiting the percentage of seats for CBSE and other board students to 15.

While issuing the order, State Government justified its decision that only about 4,220 CBSE students had written science exams with biology, the State Board students numbered over four lakh.

Since NEET questions were based on CBSE syllabus, the State board students will not be benefited, the Government said.