Orissa High Court Destroys NIT-Rourkela Admissions

The Orissa high court on Wednesday trashed the new guideline that NIT Rourkela is following to admit students from AIEEE rank list. The high court verdict exposed the suspected motive of authorities in foisting a new admission guideline, which has created widespread resentment amongst the NIT aspirants and their parents.

The HC comprising Ms.Justice Sanju Panda found the selection norms, prepared by the Central Counselling Board (CCB) bad in the eyes of law and cancelled the clause 3.3.1 of the information brochure issued on June 15, 2012. The new norm was brought to public knowledge just before the students were asked to submit their choice of subject and institution list.

Further, on giving relief to the petitioners, the HC directed the NIT Rourkela to consider their cases as per the earlier guideline. The guideline, claimed to have formulated to give a national character to the NIT's, is feared to debar a large number of students from taking admission in IT's located in their home states.

Also, the guideline violates the Supreme Court verdict that procedure for admission cannot be changed after the declaration of results. Further, the apex court had issued order for the authorities that they will have to publish at the beginning of every academic year even before inviting applications a compendium of entire scheme ans basis for selection.

On hearing to the case, High Court had ordered a stay on the admission process. Wednesday's judgement came as a lock particularly for the NIT Rourkela, which has since completed three rounds of counselling and admitted students.