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Directs Admission Portal Reopening For Students Facing Result Delay Issues
The has invoked its under to grant urgent relief to three students affected by systemic errors in () examinations. Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas directed the to re-open the () web portal, enabling the students to upload their revised marks following valid revaluation claims.
A Struggle for Meritorious Access
The dispute arose after widespread discrepancies in the valuation of Class XII answer sheets delayed the publication of final results. As the petitioners awaited their revalued scores, the state government finalized the 2026 rank list on . Consequently, these students were excluded from their rightful higher rankings, despite having performed exceptionally well after their scores were rectified.
In their petitions, the students argued that the delay was entirely attributable to the administrative lapses of the . They asserted that they had approached the Court at the earliest opportunity, seeking a fair chance to compete for seats based on their accurate academic performance.
The State’s Stance and Judicial Reasoning
The State of Kerala and the resisted the petitions, arguing that the rank list had already been published and that the first round of seat allotment had commenced. Officials expressed concerns that tampering with the list would result in administrative disorder.
However, Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas held that systemic defects in the valuation process create an exceptional situation that warrants
.
"The valuation of the
Board answer sheets had numerous flaws,"
the Court observed.
"Though the process of admissions is a laborious task for the authorities, that per se cannot be a ground for compromising merit."
The Court explicitly distinguished these cases from routine requests, emphasizing that the candidates were not at fault for the delays.
Key Observations from the Court
The judgment highlights a fundamental commitment to in professional course admissions:
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"The Court cannot ignore the fact that these admissions relate to professional courses and the entire life of a student depends upon his admission to a particular course."
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"Exceptional circumstances warrant exceptional measures."
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"The authorities concerned are expected to perform certain functions... strictly in consonance with the relevant rules and regulations."
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"Discrepancies in evaluation were allegedly wholly attributable to , with the candidates having no role in it."
A Narrow Window for Redress
To ensure the admission process remains functional, the Court meticulously molded the relief. It ordered the Commissioner of Entrance Examinations to permit the three petitioners to upload their revalued marks on , between 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
The Court mandated that the rank list be recast specifically to accommodate these students before the second allotment cycle begins. Crucially, the order is limited to the petitioners before the Court and does not permit the general public to upload late marks, thereby safeguarding the integrity of the ongoing centralized admission process. This decision reinforces the judiciary's role as a final safeguard for students against bureaucratic delays that threaten their academic prospects.
