Notice issued to IIT-Madras

Chennai, Jun 12: Madras High Court has ordered notices to IIT-Madras and the Union Ministry of Human Resources Development on a public interest litigation, seeking a direction to the authorities to admit SC/ST candidates directly to B Tech courses under the reservation policy.

Admitting the petition, the First bench, comprising Chief Justice A K Ganguly and Justice F M Ibrahim Kalifulla, ordered notices, returnable by two weeks.

In his petition, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi President Thol Thirumavalavan said the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) was conducted every year for admitting students to the B Tech courses in the IITs. But SC/ST students, who appeared for the examination, were not admitted on the basis of their performance in JEE. On the other hand, IIT-Madras forced most of the SC/ST candidates to take up a separate one-year 'preparatory course'. If a student was not successful in this course, he was not allowed for any re-examination or another attempt to re-do the course; he had to forfeit the seat.

He also wanted the IIT to go by the Union Government's reservation policy while filling faculty vacancies.

UNI