New Delhi (India), May 3, 2023: The Bombay High Court has dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking relaxation of the eligibility criterion of securing 75% marks in the higher secondary examination for admission to IITs. A division bench, headed by Acting Chief Justice SV Gangapurwala and Justice Sandeep Marne, held that it cannot interfere at this stage and that the decision lies with the government authorities.
The PIL had argued that until last year, the eligibility criteria of 75% were not applicable, and the sudden change could impact lakhs of students. Petitioner Anubha Sahai had also contended that education boards in the state had not declared the top 20 percentile, which is another criterion for admissions.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) had stated that the policy of the 75% criteria had been applicable since 2017 and that the relaxation of the criterion for previous academic years was a one-time measure. The agency had also ruled out the possibility of a third session of the JEE Mains exam in May, calling it unsustainable.
The Court was informed that the policy was kept in abeyance and has now been revived, and that all students were aware of the conditions in the brochures.
The decision of the Bombay High Court is likely to have significant ramifications for lakhs of aspiring students seeking admission to IITs.
While the PIL sought to challenge the sudden change in eligibility criteria, the Court has held that the decision to relax them lies with the government authorities. With the NTA ruling out the possibility of a third session of the JEE Mains exam, students will have to meet the current eligibility criteria to secure admission to IITs.
