Bombay HC refuses to stay JEE, asks students to approach NTA with grievances

NAGPUR: The Nagpur bench of Bombay high court on Tuesday refused to stay the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE-Mains), as demanded by a student in view of heavy rains and floods affecting the Vidarbha region.
While hearing a suo motu PIL in morning in view of urgency, a division bench comprising justices Ravi Deshpande and Pushpa Ganediwala granted liberty to the students to approach National Testing Agency (NTA) in case they were unable to appear due to floods.
“We direct that if such representation is received, it be immediately forwarded by concerned agency/centre coordinator to the apex body for conducting exams and decision on it should be taken within 15 days,” the bench ordered NTA.
Before disposing of the PIL, the judges asked students, who miss exams due to natural disasters, to make a representation through the local body to NTA, which would consider it, but after thoroughly enquiring from the exam centre coordinator and collector of respective areas.
“We’re satisfied with the stand taken by respondents to take care of the situation. We appreciate cooperation extended by all lawyers as well as all collectors and municipal authorities.
While taking a suo motu cognisance of a letter by a student from Bhandara, Nitesh Bawankar, who highlighted problems to be faced by students from Vidarbha’s flood-hit districts, the HC had fixed urgent hearing at 8.30am on Tuesday morning directing the respondents to come up with replies.
The student claimed that parts of Nagpur, Amravati, Akola, Chandrapur, Gondia and Gadchiroli districts were severely hit by the floods due to incessant rains and marooned most of the villages.