KUNAL Vs. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) By this petition, the petitioners are challenging legality and validity of the Government Resolution dated 31/10/2012 fixing the eligibility criteria for admissions to Bachelor of Engineering Courses (for short, "B.E. Courses) in the State of Maharashtra at a standard higher than one adopted by respondent No.3, for the academic year 201415.

(2.) Prior to the year 2003, the admissions to the engineering courses in the State of Maharashtra used to be made only on the basis of marks obtained by the students in 12th standard examinations. However, from the year 2003 onwards, respondent No.3 introduced a common management admission test at the central level as a common entrance test for admissions to the B.E. Courses. Respondents No.1 and 2 also started conducting a common entrance test known as MHTCET from 200304. Thus, the admissions to B.E. Courses came to be made through two channels, one of the All India Common Entrance Test and the other of the State Level Examination conducted by respondents No. 1 and 2.

(3.) The eligibility criteria for appearing at both these examinations was of 35% for reserved category candidates and 40% for general category candidates, which were further increased to 40% and 45% for the examinations conducted in the subsequent years. Presently, the eligibility criteria for taking the entrance test for B.E. Courses prescribed by respondent No.3 is of 40% for reserved category candidates and 45% for general category candidates.