(1.) PETITION filed seeking for a writ of Mandamus, directing the first respondent, The Chairman, Joint Entrance Examination, I.I.T., Chennai, to allot a seat for the petitioner son, namely,S.Gowri Shankhar in I.I.T., Madras in preference to his juniors in rank, respondents 2 to 4. ) Heard Mr.T.Arulraj, the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and Mr.Vijay Narayanan, the learned Senior Counsel appearing on behalf of the first respondent.
(2.) BY consent of the parties, the writ petition is taken up for final hearing and disposal.
(3.) THE petitioner has stated that three candidates, who are shown as respondents 2 to 4, in the present writ petition, belonging to the general category, who have lesser ranks than the petitioner's son, S.Gowri Shankhar, have been allotted seats in Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, in the second round of counselling. M.Vinay Lathi, the second respondent herein, was ranked at 3974, G.Aravind, the third respondent herein, was ranked at 4161 and Nithish Mathur, the fourth respondent herein, was ranked at 4560, in the general category. Since the petitioner's son, S.Gowri Shankhar, was ranked at 3708, as per the common merit list, in the general category, he should have been given admission in one of the first 30 places preferred by him at Madras. THE representation sent by the petitioner for allotment of a seat at Madras for her son, S.Gowri Shankhar, had been rejected by the first respondent. Non-consideration of the request of the petitioner would amount to discrimination, as it is in violation of Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution of India.