On Monday, the Supreme Court rejected a petition that challenged the requirement of obtaining 75 percent marks in the higher secondary examination (Class 12) for admission to the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). The vacation bench, consisting of Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia and Justice KV Vishwanathan, stated that this criterion has been in place previously and the court did not see a reason to intervene. The court acknowledged that educational matters should be referred to experts.
Supreme Court Rejects the Plea Against 75% Marks
The plea before the Supreme Court was filed by Chandan Kumar and others, contesting the eligibility criteria of securing 75 percent marks in the Class 12 board examination for admission to IITs. The petitioners’ counsel argued that students were granted relaxations during the COVID-19 pandemic, and these students should now have more opportunities to qualify for admission to esteemed engineering institutes.
The advocate representing the petitioners stated that the student in question had scored over 98 percent marks in the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main, demonstrating exceptional academic performance. The counsel requested the court to grant admission to such deserving students. It was further highlighted that the applicant had achieved a score of 92 percent in JEE Mains, making them eligible to appear for JEE Advanced. However, even if the student clears JEE Advanced 2023, they would not be granted admission due to their board exam score falling below the 75th percentile.
The brochure for the JEE Advanced exam, released this year, stipulates that candidates must obtain a minimum of 75 percent marks in their class 12th board exams.
Why Getting into IITs is so coveted?
The IITs, which are considered the most esteemed institutions in India, provide exceptional engineering and technological education that is recognized internationally for its excellence. These institutes have established a world-class educational platform that is consistently maintained through high-quality teaching, renowned research, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and the presence of exceptional faculty. Graduates from the IITs hold significant positions, both within India and internationally. Currently, there are twenty-three IITs located across India.
IIT alumni are renowned for their professional excellence and achievements in various fields of life. Whether it is pursuing further studies at prestigious universities abroad or securing employment in esteemed organizations worldwide, IITians consistently rank among the top performers.
