HC asks Maharashtra to consider setting up panel of all boards to prepare question paper

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday asked the Maharashtra government to consider setting up a committee comprising all academic boards to prepare one question paper for the Common Entrance Test (CET) for class 11 or junior college admissions to be held on August 21.

The court said that a common question paper can include questions relevant for students who appeared for class 10 exams from boards other than Maharashtra SSC (Secondary School Certificate) board.

A division bench of Justice R D Dhanuka and Justice R I Chagla was hearing a writ petition filed by ICSE student Ananya Patki of IES Orion School in Mumbai’s Dadar, seeking to quash a May 28 notification of the state, which had stated that admissions to Class XI – to be based on CET – will be based solely on the syllabus of the SSC board.

Alleging discrimination, advocate Yogesh Patki, the petitioner’s father, told the HC that as his daughter was not in a position to sit for a physical test, and first preference might be given to students who appeared for CET, Ananya’s interest would suffer.
On July 22, the court had sought to know from the Maharashtra government whether there can be a separate syllabus for CBSE and ICSE students appearing for CET and if it cannot be done, whether priority given to only those students who appear for CET can be withdrawn.

However, on Wednesday, government pleader Purnima H Kantharia said the SSC board will not be able to look into the syllabus of ICSE, CBSE and other boards to prepare questions based on them.

“You (state) can form a committee consisting of all three boards so that there will be options. If there is an attempt to eliminate students from certain boards, then that is not a solution. How can ICSE or CBSE board students answer these multiple-choice questions based on topics that are optional subjects for them?” the bench asked the state.

The HC then suggested whether the syllabus of ICSE, CBSE and other boards can be part of the CET examination. It also allowed the intervenors to add other boards, including International Baccalaureate (IB) and International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE), as parties to the case. The HC will hear the case next on August 4.