Replying to the debate on the bill, Education and Commercial Taxes Minister Ce V Shanmugam said there would have been no need for it if the Centre had amended guidelines in the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and Medical Council of India (MCI), which made entrance test mandatory for admission to Engineering and Medical courses. The state could not introduce the bill in advance as it was expecting the Centre to amend the guidelines, which it failed to do.

The state government had suggested and even sent a model bill to do away with CET, empower state governments and decide quantum of reservation and fee structure. But the Centre, after promising it would call for discussions with the state government, brought in the 104th Constitutional Amendment, ignoring the state's suggestions.

Ms J Jayalalithaa wrote to the Centre in September and even after a reminder in December, there was no response from the Centre, he said. 'We were waiting for the Centre's response, but the Centre, without even letting us know, introduced the amendment.' Earlier, intervening, Ms Jayalalithaa said if the Centre had amended AICTE and MCI guidelines, there would be no need for the present legislation. Due to the guidelines, the government, which was against entrance exam, was forced to conduct CET, she said.

DMK-led opposition parties, including the Congress, PMK and Left, welcoming the bill, urged the government to be firm on its decision and ensure the legislation was not struck down by the court.