Madras High Court Holds Anna University Sports Quota Admissions

The Madras High Court has put Anna University's Sports Quota Admissions 2013 into hold asking them not to finalize results of the single window counselling for Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions (TNEA 2013) under the Sports Quota until further orders.

Justice S Manikumar gave the interim direction on a petition filed by a throw ball player who was not called for the counselling for admission in engineering and medical courses.

Petitioner S Saranya from Srivilliputhur submitted that she has won in several tournaments in throw ball including at the national level. She had applied for the BE and MBBS admission under the Special Reservation for Eminent Sports Person (Sports Quota).

As per rules, she is entitled for 190 marks for winning a gold medal at the 22nd National Throw Ball Championship and 160 marks for winning a silver medal at the 23rd National Throw Ball Championship. In all, she is entitled to 730 marks under the sports quota.

Complying with a direction from the Anna University - the nodal agency for sports quota admissions - she had produced her original certificates for verification on June 14. However, her application was rejected on the ground that throw the ball is not recognized by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).

Aggrieved by the stand of the university, she approached the court. Petitioner's counsel contended that in the list of eligible for sports disciplines issued by the TNEA Secretary, throw ball was mentioned in the serial number 44 of the schedule.

To prove her credentials, Saranya had produced certificates issued by the Throw Ball Federation of India, a body recognized by the Union Ministry of Sports and also by the IOA. Passing interim orders, Justice Manikumar directed the Anna University Registrar, Higher Education Principal Secretary and TNEA Secretary to permit the petitioner to participate in the counseling under sports quota and to allot her the marks.

About Anna University Sports Quota Admissions:

TNEA Sports Rank for the year 2013 was released on 15th June 2013. Sports quota Counselling started from 17th June onwards. The purpose of the sports quota is to recognize and give weightage to the sports eminence of the candidates and hence marks for sports achievements alone will be considered in ranking the candidates.

Students who applied for sports quota and called for counselling should go for certificate verification to Ana University Chennai. The B.Arch students have been called separately for sports quota certificate verification.

Totally 500 seats are available under sports quota. 700 students have been called for the first day, and 300 students have been called for the second day of counselling.