KAMALPREET KAUR Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB AND ANR.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE petitioners were candidates for admission to the various courses in engineering run by the Institutions affiliated to the Punjab State Board of Technical Education and Industrial Training. There were a total of 5445 seats. A large number of candidates had appeared in the Entrance Test. The petitioners were successful. However, despite having proved their merit, the petitioners were excluded from consideration for admission to the course during the first counseling. This was done on the ground that they had not passed the Matriculation Examination after studying in recognised schools in the State of Punjab. Persons who were lower in order of merit were admitted. Aggrieved by the action, the petitioners have approached this Court through these 34 petitions.

(2.) THE basic issue that arises for consideration in these petitions is - Have the Respondents acted arbitrarily, illegally and in violation of Art. 14 in not considering the petitioners for admission merely because they had not studied in recognised Schools or had appeared as private candidates in the Matriculation Examination?

(3.) THE petitioner is a resident of Village Jangpura in District Patiala. She is a resident of Punjab. She was a student at New Baby Model High School, Banur. She passed the Matriculation Examination from the Punjab School Education Board in March 2001. She secured 425 marks out of 650 viz. 65.38%.