The Madras High Court Bench here has directed the State Higher Education Department, the Registrar of Anna University and the secretary of Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions not to publish the results of counselling under the sports quota till further orders. Justice S. Manikumar issued the interim direction while hearing a writ petition filed by S. Saranya (18), a national throwball player, challenging the rank list issued by Anna University for candidates under the sports quota on June 16. The judge further instructed the authorities to permit the petitioner to participate in the counselling for candidates under the sports quota from June 18.
In her petition, Ms. Saranya, a resident of Srivilliputhur in Virudhunagar district, said she had applied for engineering and MBBS courses under the special reservation for eminent sports persons.
She had appeared for certificate verification at the Centre for Entrance Examination and Admission at Anna University on June 14, 2013, with the certificate issued by the Throwball Federation of India, she claimed.
“The prospectus issued by the secretary of Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions had listed throwball players as eligible for seats under the sports quota. But, the authorities refused to take into consideration the certificates she produced, stating that throwball was not recognised by the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs. No mark was awarded under the sports quota and her name did not figure in the rank list,” she contended through her counsel D. Shanmugaraja Sethupathi. Subsequently, she was not called to attend the counselling for those under sports quota on June 17 and 18, Ms. Saranya added.
According to the petitioner’s counsel, recognition by the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs was not a criterion to consider admission under the sports quota as per the prospectus.
Justice Manikumar directed the authorities to permit Ms. Saranya to participate in the counselling from June 18.
