Will the Supreme Court Intervene in Kerala's KEAM Admissions Process?
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Synopsis
The Supreme Court upheld the Kerala High Court's ruling on KEAM admissions, allowing the process to continue based on the revised rank list. With the state government opting not to appeal, students await further developments on a legal question concerning the evaluation formula. Will this decision impact students?
Key Takeaways
- Supreme Court maintains no interference in KEAM admissions.
- Kerala High Court's ruling annulled the revised rank list.
- Last-minute changes to eligibility criteria deemed unjustified.
- Students from CBSE and ICSE backgrounds affected by the new formula.
- Legal question regarding mark standardization to be heard next month.
New Delhi, July 16 (NationPress) The Supreme Court made it abundantly clear on Wednesday that it will not intervene in this year's admission process related to the revised ranking list for the Kerala Engineering Architecture Medical (KEAM) entrance examination.
Recently, both the single bench and the division bench of the Kerala High Court rejected the state government's appeal against the earlier ruling.
This ruling had declared the KEAM rank list published on July 1 as void.
The high court emphasized that the last-minute alteration to the eligibility criteria was unwarranted and instructed the authorities to revert to the original prospectus while issuing a new rank list.
The controversy surfaced when the state government issued a Government Order (GO) on July 1, coinciding with the release of the rank list, which modified the evaluation formula.
Under the revised criteria, the weightage for Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry was shifted from a 1:1:1 ratio to a 5:3:2 ratio, disproportionately impacting CBSE and ICSE students who claimed the modification was biased and arbitrary.
In a significant move, the Pinarayi Vijayan administration chose not to contest the division bench ruling and proceeded with the admission allotment. Meanwhile, a group of students from the Kerala syllabus sought the Supreme Court's intervention to stay the high court's decision.
The only favorable outcome from Wednesday's ruling was the apex court's agreement to hear the legal question concerning the authority to modify the formula for standardizing marks across various boards.
Despite a heartfelt appeal from the petitioners' counsel for an expedited hearing next week, the bench scheduled the matter for four weeks later, instructing the state to submit its counter.
The court learned that the Vijayan government's attorney would not file a petition against the High Court's ruling, aiming to avoid delaying the admission process.
"Let me clarify, we intended to appeal, but did not want to disrupt the process," stated the counsel.
As this issue draws to a close, the legal question will be addressed next month, but the admission process will continue in the meantime.
Point of View
It is crucial to recognize the implications of the Supreme Court's decision on the KEAM admissions process. This ruling underscores the judiciary's role in maintaining the integrity of educational assessments, while also highlighting the delicate balance between administrative changes and student rights. Our commitment remains to provide transparent and fair coverage on such pivotal matters.
NationPress
16/07/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Supreme Court's ruling on KEAM admissions?
The Supreme Court has ruled that it will not interfere with this year's admissions based on the revised rank list of the KEAM entrance exam.
Why was there a controversy regarding the KEAM rank list?
The controversy arose after the state government changed the evaluation formula on the same day the rank list was published, altering the weightage of subjects in a manner that students deemed unfair.
What did the Kerala High Court decide?
The Kerala High Court annulled the KEAM rank list and directed authorities to revert to the original prospectus for admissions.
Will the state government appeal the High Court's ruling?
The Pinarayi Vijayan government has decided not to appeal against the ruling to avoid delaying the admission process.
What is the next step in this legal matter?
The Supreme Court will examine the legal question regarding the power to change the evaluation formula in a scheduled hearing next month.
