In Brief
The Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur appealed against a High Court judgment that had quashed eligibility Criterion 5 of the JEE (Advanced) examination, which bars candidates from re-appearing if they have previously accepted admission at an IIT. The Supreme Court upheld the criterion as valid and non-discriminatory. The Court held that the policy, formulated by all 23 IITs in consultation with government bodies, is rationally aimed at conserving valuable institutional seats and applies uniformly across years. The distinction between IIT and non-IIT institutions is statutorily justified. The Court emphasised that judicial review of academic policies should be circumscribed, deferring to institutional judgment unless plainly arbitrary. The High Court erred in comparing IIT and non-IIT admission rules without recognising their different legal foundations."
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