Supreme Court: Admission Criteria Cannot be Changed Once Process Begins
The Supreme Court criticized the Punjab government for its flexible approach to admission under the sports quota for MBBS and BDS courses in the 2024 session. The court emphasized that once the admission process has commenced, the criteria cannot be altered.
It highlighted the importance of transparency in such processes to ensure fairness and prevent arbitrariness and nepotism. The court stated that leaving admission norms ambiguous and subject to change midway does not align with principles of fair play.
Two students, Divjot Sekhon and Shubhkarman Singh, challenged the admission criteria set by the Punjab government, leading to the court’s intervention. The bench underscored the state’s obligation to act fairly and reasonably, emphasizing that decisions must be reasoned and not arbitrary.
It further stated that hasty decisions could be deemed arbitrary and should not be condoned. The court directed the government to accommodate Sekhon and Singh in government medical college seats.
While acknowledging the state’s role in formulating policies, the court asserted that policies marred by arbitrariness or nepotism would be nullified. It emphasized that policymakers must avoid allowing scope for unfair practices.
