RAKTIMABHA JENA Vs. DIRECTOR OF AYUSH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS writ petition has been filed with a prayer to issue a writ of mandamus directing opposite party no. 1 -Director of Ayush, Government of Odisha, Bhubaneswar to allow the petitioner to take admission in Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery Course (for short 'BAMS') either at Gopabandhu Ayurvedic Mahavidyalaya, Puri or KATS Ayurvedic College, Ankushpur, Ganjam.

(2.) PETITIONER 's case in a nut shell is that the petitioner has secured 1st Class in H.S.C. Examination and 2nd Class in +2 Science Examination. As per the terms and conditions enumerated in the advertisement of OJEE, 2013, she has secured more than 50% of marks in Physics, Chemistry and Biology. She was qualified in the Joint Entrance Examination Odisha (OJEE) 2013 in BAMS Stream holding Rank No. 4249 for the academic year 2013 -

(3.) MR . R.K. Patnaik, learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the students securing rank much below the petitioner have participated in the OJEE Counselling held on 26.11.2013 and their names were placed in the selection list for taking admission in different colleges. The petitioner belongs to Krushna Prasad block, which is an island in Chilika lake. Due to natural calamity on account of heavy cyclone (Phailine), Krushna Prasad block was cut -off from other parts of the State and the petitioner was prevented from participating in the OJEE Counselling held on 26.11.2013. He, therefore, prayed that necessary direction may be issued to opposite party no. 1 to allow the petitioner to take admission in BAMS Course.