The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday directed the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) to announce the results of the stage two casual vacancy round seat allotment by 11 a.m. on Thursday instead of Saturday.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Vikramajit Sen and Justice Aravind Kumar passed the order on a public interest litigation (PIL) petition, which had complained that postponement of the date for announcing the results could only benefit the Consortium of Medical, Engineering and Dental College of Karnataka (COMEDK).
K. Sreedhar had filed the petition based on a report published in The Hindu narrating the grievances of students who complained that the change in the original schedule would force them to choose a seat allotted by COMEDK by paying higher fees.
Original schedule
As per the original schedule, the KEA was to have announced the results on Wednesday. The last day to surrender seats allotted though COMEDK is Thursday. This had given an opportunity for students to opt for the COMEDK seat only if they were unsatisfied with the college allotted to them by the KEA, the petitioner pointed out. The Bench, referring to recent verdict of the Supreme Court in Priya Gupta vs. State of Chhattisgarh, held that the KEA had to adhere to the original seat schedule as held by the apex court.
The KEA has to adhere to the original schedule [of announcing the results of the second stage casual vacancy round seat allotment before the last date, August 23, for surrendering seats allotted through the COMEDK], the Bench said while pointing out that those candidates who had been allotted seats through the COMEDK would have no option but to retain those seats even if they get an allotment of their choice if the KEA announces the results after Thursday. Refusing to accept the KEA claim that the schedule was changed to prevent blocking of seats by some students, the Bench said that on account of a minuscule number of students not surrendering their seats allotted by the KEA would not be a reason to deprive the larger section of the students who would be waiting to opt for a college/subject of their choice.
As the originally announced last date [August 22] for announcing the results of the second stage allotment was over, the Bench asked the KEA to announce the results by 11 a.m. on Thursday as the deadline to opt or surrender the COMEDK seat would be valid till Thursday evening.
