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Cuttack, March 27: The Orissa High Court Friday directed the state government to conduct Orissa Joint Entrance Examination (OJEE) for admission to B Tech courses.
The court has suggested dates for the entrance examination. “Issue notification for the exam June 1, hold the exam July 24, publish the results July 27 and conduct counselling between August 7 and August 14,” the court said, adding that the dates can be changed as per convenience.
A division bench comprising Justices I Mohanty and BK Nayak faulted the state government’s decision to consider AIEEE ranks for B Tech courses without bringing in amendments to the Regulation of Admission and Fixation of Fee Act-2007. The bench struck down the government’s decision and said OJEE be conducted for the coming academic year.
Earlier, the government had decided to consider AIEEE ranks for admission to B Tech course in state colleges. Orissa Private Engineering College Association, however, moved the High Court against the government’s decision. General secretary of OPECA Binod Das had filed a petition in this connection. The government’s decision would result in vacant seats in engineering colleges, Das contended.
“The policy planning body of the state was conducting the OJEE as per Orissa Professional Educational Institutional Guidelines Act. However, it has now planned to take up admission to B Tech courses through the entrance examination conducted by Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE),” Das said.
The decision to admit students to B Tech courses through AIEEE is in violation of laws laid down by the government, the petitioner said.
The students would find the examination conducted by CBSE tough as they are familiar with the course syllabus of Council of Higher Secondary Education of Orissa, the petitioner contended.
