Madras HC Stays Order Directing IIT Kanpur to Redo JEE Advanced 2018 Rank Lists
On July 10, 2018, a significant development occurred in the JEE Advanced 2018 aftermath. The case filed by Lakshmi Sree, a student who had already secured a seat at IIT Kanpur, led to a court order prompting IIT Kanpur to redo their rank lists for students who answered numerical values rounded to two decimal points. This decision caused considerable confusion and frustration among students and parents. However, in a recent ruling, the Madras High Court took a pivotal stance, staying this order and allowing the counselling process to proceed.
Background of the Case
The case stems from the instructions given to JEE Advanced 2018 candidates. Specifically, students were told to answer numerical values in decimal notation, rounded off to the second decimal place. It was clarified that full marks would only be awarded if the answers conformed to the instructions. However, this precise requirement faced challenges, such as the case of 7.0 versus 7.00, where students who took longer to provide the more precise answer were at a disadvantage.
Lakeshmee Sree, a student from Chennai who appeared for JEE Advanced, challenged this process. She argued that students should be given preference in issuing ranks if they provided their answers in the preferred format. The Madras High Court was then compelled to intervene, resulting in the order to IIT Kanpur to redo their rank lists, a decision that sparked immediate controversy and confusion.
The Court's Ruling and Its Impact
This order was issued in the interest of equity and adherence to the instructions provided during the exam. However, it was not received favorably by IIT Kanpur. The institution, given the already concluded evaluation of the exam and the validity of the results, requested a stay on this directive. In a landmark decision, the Madras High Court's division bench, comprising Justice Huluvadi G Ramesh and Justice Dhandapani, granted the stay, affirming the legitimacy of the existing rank lists and allowing the counselling process to resume from the third round.
Current Status and Next Steps
With the order now stayed, students can breathe a sigh of relief. The institutional proceedings related to the counselling process have resumed their course. As of the latest updates, no further results have been announced pending the notification process for the third round of counselling.
To recap, the Madras High Court's decision to stay the order directing IIT Kanpur to redo the JEE Advanced 2018 rank lists has brought relief to the students and the institution. The counselling process, which had been halted, is now in motion, with the third round likely to commence shortly.
Conclusion
The outcome of this case highlights the importance of legal interventions in higher education, particularly in processes as stringent and critical as JEE Advanced. While the initial order aimed to ensure fairness, the subsequent ruling underscores the need for judicial oversight to uphold the integrity of academic evaluations. As the counselling process resumes, students and institutions can look forward to a more streamlined and efficient admissions process.