The Supreme Court has given relief to those students who had challenged the decision to reduce the number of attempts of Joint Entrance Exam (JEE) Advanced from three to two. The court said that the petitioner students who left their courses between November 5, 2024 and November 18, 2024 will be allowed to appear in the examination. However, the apex court refused to interfere in the decision to reduce the number of attempts for JEE Advanced.
The board changed its own rules in 13 days
Actually, the Board had increased the number of attempts for JEE Advanced through a press release on 5 November 2024. The limit of sitting in JEE Advanced was increased from two to three. A few days later, on 18 November 2024, the board issued another press release informing about the withdrawal of its decision. The board again reduced the JEE Advanced attempt limit from three to two. 22 aspirants had approached the Supreme Court against this decision.
Senior advocate K, appearing for the petitioners. Parameshwara told the bench, “The first three attempts were allowed, but within just 13 days it was canceled, which is completely arbitrary. On November 5, it was announced that you would be eligible, and we Decisions were taken on this basis, which can no longer be reversed.”
What did Solicitor General Tushar Mehta say to the court?
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Joint Admission Board (JAB), told the bench, “This decision was taken as it was observed that students taking admission in regular engineering courses were focusing on JEE Advanced examination instead of concentrating on their B.Tech studies.” “We were focusing on the preparation. This decision has been taken in the interest of the students and as a policy decision.”
Supreme Court decision
Justice B. R. Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih said after the hearing, “In the press release dated November 5, 2024, it was promised to the students that those who have appeared for Class 12 examination in 2023, 2024 and 2025 can appear for JEE Advanced. If students leave their courses based on this announcement and understand that they can appear in the examination, then on 18th November 2024 Withdrawal of this promise should not be harmful for them.”
The Court further said, “In view of the special circumstances, and without commenting on the merits of the JAB’s decision, such students who have completed their courses between 5 November 2024 and 18 November 2024 are permitted to register for the examination.” Left it.”
JEE Advanced attempt limit will remain only two
With this direction, the petition was disposed of. The bench said, “We are not questioning the validity of the decision to limit the attempt limit of JEE Advanced to two years or three years. If JAB has fixed the limit of two years, then no error can be considered in it. ”
This order was given on the petition of students who had challenged JAB’s decision to reduce the limit of attempts in JEE Advanced from three to two. On November 5, 2024, JAB had announced that three attempts would be allowed for JEE Advanced. But within two weeks, on 18 November 2024, JAB reversed its decision and said that only two attempts would be allowed.
