Bombay HC Directs Maharashtra Govt to Set Up an All Boards Panel for FYJC CET 2021
The Bombay HC has directed the Maharashtra State Government to constitute an All Boards panel comprising experts from educational boards like the CBSE and ICSE who will help the state government officials in preparing a common question paper.
The State Government of Maharashtra has been directed by the Bombay High Court to contemplate setting up an all Boards panel to prepare a single question paper for the FYJC CET 2021 exam, to be conducted on 21st August. The panel or committee would constitute experts from educational boards like the CBSE and ICSE who will help the state government officials in preparing a common question paper.
Justice RI Chagla and Justice RD Dhanuka of the Division Bench asked this question during the hearing of a writ petition filed by advocate Yogesh Patki, the father of an ICSE board student Ananya Patki, challenging the State Government’s decision to conduct the FYJC CET only based on the Maharashtra SSC Board syllabus. Advocate Yogesh Patki informed the Bombay HC that it would be unfair to Ananya as an ICSE board student and others from different boards as the physical test will only comprise questions based on the Maharashtra SSC Board syllabus.
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After the COVID-19 pandemic forced the schools to shut down and led to the assessment of the class Xth students from the academic year 2020-21 to be evaluated through an internal assessment formula, the state officials decided to conduct an optional physical examination for admission into class XI. They issued a notification on 28th May regarding the same. The notification stated that those who do not wish to appear for the physical examination will be evaluated on the basis of their class Xth aggregate marks. It also stated that first preference would be given to those who took the physical examination. In such a scenario, students from other boards like CBSE and ICSE would not be allowed to take the physical examination and would be at a disadvantage with the CET-appearing students getting preference over them.
The Bombay HC on 22nd July sought answers from the State regarding whether they can prepare a separate syllabus for the CBSE and ICSE students or whether they can reconsider the “Priority Clause” in their selection process criteria. It has also decided on the next hearing date, i.e on 04th of August.