ATHULYA ASHOKAN Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Petitioners in both these writ petitions are students who have joined the Course of Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) in Colleges in the year 2015 and 2016. The writ petitions have been filed for orders directing the respondents to allow the petitioners to write the examination and to allow them to continue the Course. The parties and exhibits are referred to in this judgment as they are described/marked in W.P.(C) No.44086/2024.

(2.) The petitioners state that they joined the Course of BDS in their respective Colleges in the year 2015 and 2016. Though their Course period is over, they are yet to clear certain examinations/papers. According to the 3rd respondent-Kerala University of Health Sciences (KUHS), "any student who does not clear the BDS Course in all the subjects within a period of nine years, including one year compulsory rotatory paid internship from the date of admission shall be discharged from the Course". The University issued Ext.P1 Examination Notification dtd. 23/11/2024 declaring to commence the BDS Examinations on 6/1/2025. However, the petitioners are not allowed to apply for the examinations as notified by Exts.P1 and P2. The petitioners were informed that since they got admission for the Course in the year 2015 and 2016, they have completed the Course duration and they will be discharged from the Course. They will not be allowed to further write the examination, in view of the guidelines issued by the 2nd respondent-Dental Council of India (DCI).

(3.) The petitioners state that their Batch is the most affected Batch due to the 2018 and 2019 Kerala floods and the Covid-19 pandemic which affected their regular Classes and examinations. The 3rd respondent-University has allowed students who are registered in the academic year 2010, 2011 and 2012 to complete the Course by giving them time till 31/12/2024. The University has also given mercy chance after the Course duration.