2010

CONSTITUTION OF INDIA
ASSIGNMENT NO. 1

Analysis on
Resolution passed by Go t. O! Ma"a#as"t#a in #espe$t o! students see%in& ad'ission to F()C* t"e 'a#%s to be $onside#ed by +,est o! Fi e- 'et"od..

Date o! Sub'ission/ 01st )uly -11 Sub'itted ,y/ Sandeep Sayal MBA (Tech) Telecom 4th Year Roll No.: 421

Case Scenario
Go ernment o! Maharashtra recentl" #asse$ a resol%tion that st%$ents ha in& #asse$ their SSC 'oar$s (o%l$ &et a$mission to )Y*C ()irst Year *%nior Colle&e)+ onl" on the 'asis o! the #ercenta&e (,) o'taine$ '" the st%$ent in - s%'.ects. The #arents o! the st%$ents a##earin& !or /CS0 'oar$ ha e !ile$ a #etition in the 1i&h Co%rt o! Bom'a" statin& that it is in iolation o! the !%n$amental ri&ht &i en %n$er the article 14 o! the Constit%tion o! /n$ia.

Bac2&ro%n$ /n!ormation
ARTIC2E 13
03%alit" 'e!ore 4a( 5 The State shall not $en" to an" #erson e3%alit" 'e!ore the la( or the e3%al #rotection o! the la(s (ithin the territor" o! /n$ia.

Cent#al ,oa#d o! Se$onda#y Edu$ation 4C,SE5

Se$onda#y 4SSC5

S$"ool

Ce#ti!i$ate

E6a'ination

This e7am is con$%cte$ '" the State Go ernment !or Class 18. All st%$ents ha e to a##ear !or si7 s%'.ects incl%$in& three lan&%a&es i9. Marathi+ 0n&lish an$ 1in$i. The state 'oar$ has si7 com#%lsor" s%'.ects !or class : st%$ents 55 0n&lish an$ t(o lan&%a&es+ Social St%$ies+ Mathematics an$ Science.

Constitution of India - Assignment 1

Indian 4ICSE5

Ce#ti!i$ate

o!

Se$onda#y

Edu$ation

The /n$ian Certi!icate o! Secon$ar" 0$%cation (/CS0) e7amination is an e7amination con$%cte$ '" the Co%ncil !or the /n$ian School Certi!icate 07aminations !or class 18+ i.e.+ &ra$e 18. 6n$er /CS0 'oar$+ all can$i$ates !or the e7amination m%st enter an$ sit !or se en s%'.ects. The s%'.ects co ere$ are:

Gro%# / (All s%'.ects are Com#%lsor") 0n&lish+ a Secon$ 4an&%a&e+ 1istor"+ Ci ics an$ Geo&ra#h"+ 0n ironmental 0$%cation.

Gro%# // (An" 2 s%'.ects) Mathematics+ Science (;h"sics+ Chemistr"+ Biolo&")+ 0conomics+ Commercial St%$ies+ Technical <ra(in&+ a Mo$ern )orei&n 4an&%a&e+ a Classical 4an&%a&e+ Com#%ter Science+ 0n ironmental Science+ A&ric%lt%ral Science. Tho%&h the st%$ents ha e a choice+ it is &enerall" ass%me$ that the" (ill ta2e Mathematics an$ Science. St%$ents (ishin& to ta2e %# other s%'.ects m%st 'e a##rise$ o! the im#lications '" the 1ea$ o! the School. Gro%# /// (An" 1 s%'.ect) Com#%ter A##lications+ 0conomic A##lications+ Commercial A##lications+ Art+ ;er!ormin& Arts+ 1ome Science+ Coo2er"+ )ashion <esi&nin&+ ;h"sical 0$%cation+ Yo&a+ Technical <ra(in& A##lications+ 0n ironmental A##lications+ a Mo$ern )orei&n 4an&%a&e.

Case <escri#tion
)e'r%ar" 2818: =n 2n$ )e'r%ar"+ 2818 the Maharashtra State Go ernment #%'lishe$ a #ress noti!ication as2in& !or o#inions an$ s%&&estions !rom the #%'lic. Constitution of India - Assignment 1 3

These s%&&estions (ere calle$ !rom #eo#le till )e'r%ar" 22. 2-8 $i!!erent o#inions (ere recei e$ $%rin& this #erio$. A!ter recei in& the s%&&estions !rom the #%'lication+ the state &o ernment anno%nce$ on 2-th )e'r%ar"+ 2818 its $ecision on the >Best5o!5)i e? #olic" !or SSC st%$ents !or Class :/ a$missions ia its Go ernment Resol%tion (GR). *%ne 2818: /n res#onse to the state &o ernment@s #olic"+ a #etition (as !ile$ '" the #arents o! st%$ents (ho ha$ a##eare$ !or Class : 'oar$ e7ams !rom /CS0 an$ CBS0 'oar$. )or the Class 18 'oar$ e7ams+ CBS0 st%$ents (rite e7ams in !i e s%'.ects+ /CS0 st%$ents (rote se en an$ SSC st%$ents si7. Ahile it (as e i$ent !rom the >Best5o!5)i e? #olic" that !or

SSC an$ CBS0 st%$ents@ mar2s o! onl" !i e s%'.ects (ill 'e ta2en into consi$erationB there (as little clarit" on the !ate o! /CS0 st%$ents !or the same. /! in case+ the >Best o! )i e? #olic" (as limite$ onl" to the SSC st%$ents+ it (o%l$ ha e a!!ecte$ more than C888 st%$ents ta2in& the /CS0 e7am. The State Go ernment o##ose$ the #etitioners sa"in& that the" (aite$ !or more than D months to !ile the #etition. The" also a$$e$ that the $ela" is serio%s an$ &ross in the !acts an$ circ%mstances o! the case an$ hence the #etition ma" not 'e entertaine$ at this sta&e (hen the a$missions #rocess is a'o%t to start. )%rther+ the State in their re#l" also #ointe$ o%t that the >Best5o!5)i e? #olic" is a$o#te$ onl" !or iss%in& mar2 sheets an$ certi!icates an$ that it (as then entirel" the $iscretion o! /CS0 'oar$ (hether to a$o#t the same #olic" or not. This re#l" !rom the state also ta'%late$ the a$ anta&e that (as &i en to the st%$ents o! /CS0 an$ CBS0 'oar$s 'eca%se o! $i!!erence in the s%'.ects an$ the &ra$in& str%ct%re that #%t the SSC st%$ents at a $isa$ anta&e. 4ater in *%ne+ 1i&h Co%rt str%c2 $o(n the >Best )i e? s"stem+ !eelin& that it (as E$iscriminator"@ an$ iolate$ the !%n$amental ri&ht to e3%alit" %n$er the article 14 o! the Constit%tion o! /n$ia. The Maharashtra Go ernment a##eale$ to the a#e7 S%#reme Co%rt a!ter the Bom'a" hi&h co%rt str%c2 $o(n the 'est5!i e #olic".

*%l" 2818:

Constitution of India - Assignment 1

)inall" in *%l"+ the S%#reme Co%rt en$e$ the %ncertaint" o er .%nior colle&e a$missions sa"in& that Maharashtra m%st e7ten$ the 'ene!it o! the state 'oar$@s >Best5o!5!i e? #olic" to /CS0 as (ell. The SC also sta"e$ the Bom'a" hi&h co%rt@s .%$&ment o! last month scra##in& the 'est5!i e #olic" on the &ro%n$s that the SSC !orm%la $iscriminate$ a&ainst st%$ents !rom other 'oar$s an$ so the !inal er$ict is e7#ecte$ in =ct@2818. The committee lea$ *%stice F.S. Sir#%r2ar $escri'e$ ho( the >Best5o!5 !i e? scheme (ill 'e a##lica'le to /CS0 st%$ents as (ell. The /CS0 st%$ents can select s%'.ects onl" !rom Gro%# / an$ //+ an$ not &ro%# ///. The co%rt also &a e the /CS0 st%$ents the o#tion o! consi$erin& all se en s%'.ects. )inall" a!ter the entire $is#%te+ )Y*C a$missions 'e&an on 1C th *%l"+ 2818 (ith the classes e7#ecte$ to 'e starte$ late than %s%al+ (ith the st%$ents 'earin& more #ress%re o! com#letin& #ortion !or the ne7t aca$emic "ear in lesser time #erio$.

Anal"sis
0ach "ear !or the last three "ears #rior+ contro ersies ha e 'een occ%rrin& .%st 'e!ore the commencement o! the .%nior colle&e a$mission #rocess in Maharashtra. This "ear the contro ers" o! E'est !i e@ s%'.ects onl" !or consi$eration !or a$mission has 'een ra&in& on !or the #ast !e( months+ !inall" &ettin& resol e$ on 14th *%l". Aith the Bom'a" 1i&h Co%rt earlier stri2in& $o(n the >Best )i e? s"stem+ !eelin& that it (as E$iscriminator"@ an$ iolate$ the !%n$amental ri&ht to e3%alit"+ the S%#reme Co%rt on !%rther a##eal '" the Maharashtra Go ernment o err%le$ the Bom'a" 1i&h Co%rt@s er$ict an$ e7ten$e$ the >Best )i e? r%le to the /CS0 'oar$ as (ell. A$mission #rocess has !inall" starte$ on 1Gth *%l". The SC o err%le$ the er$ict o! Bom'a" 1i&h Co%rt. / (holehearte$l" en$orse the initial 1i&h Co%rt er$ict an$ o##ose the !inal S%#reme Co%rt er$ict. / am also ehementl" o##ose$ to the entire a$mission #rocess+ (hich / !eel is 'lin2ere$+ 'iase$ an$ is $etrimental to the entire e$%cation s"stem.

Constitution of India - Assignment 1

The #olicies ma$e '" the &o ernment lac2 #ro!essional anal"sis an$ #lannin&. The &o ernment has !aile$ to ha e a lateral thin2in& an$ has not consi$ere$ e7ternal !actors an$ 'asic !%n$amental ri&hts o! e3%alit". The State Go ernment has !aile$ to learn !rom its #ast recent e7#eriences. Some o! the recent 'l%n$ers ma$e '" the state &o ernment in this iss%e are:

1. ;ercentile contro ers": =n 2Gth *%ne+ 288H the state as2e$ colle&es to ta2e a st%$ent@s #ercenta&e+ $i i$e the res%lt '" the a era&e o! the to# ten !rom the 'oar$ an$ m%lti#l" '" h%n$re$. The !inal #ercentile o'taine$ (o%l$ 'e %se$ !or a$mission. <%rin& this #erio$+ the state also attem#te$ to res%rrect a #olic" to 2ee# G8, seats !or st%$ents !rom the same $istrict. The s"stem (as str%c2 $o(n '" the 1/G1 C=6RT in Se#tem'er. 2. I8:18 contro ers": =n Hth *%ne+ 288I the State Go ernment anno%nce$ the I8:18 s"stem+ (hich inten$e$ to set asi$e I8, .%nior colle&e seats !or SSC st%$ents. The s"stem (as str%c2 $o(n '" Bom'a" 1i&h Co%rt a month later. The state &o ernment lac2s !oresi&ht (hich is clearl" o'ser a'le !rom the !acts that the &o ernment anno%nces these #lans .%st 'e!ore the a$missions 'e&in e er" "ear. These #lans lea$ to len&th" liti&ation+ $ela"in& the a$missions an$ a!!ectin& the st%$ents. The acce#tance o! the >Best5o!5!i e? #olic" means that the st%$ents (ho (ill #ass their 'oar$ e7ams !rom SSC 'oar$ (ill 'e allo(e$ to choose an" !i e s%'.ects in (hich the" ha e sec%re$ &oo$ mar2s. =n the contrar" an /CS0 st%$ent (ho has G s%'.ects (ill not ha e the li'ert" to choose hisJher 'est !i e s%'.ects.

This "ear+ H2HI st%$ents ha$ a##eare$ !or the /CS0 e7aminations across Maharashtra+ (hereas 2.H2 la2h st%$ents a##eare$ !or the SSC e7aminations. This attem#t '" the state to tilt the a$mission #rocess in !a or o! the SSC st%$ents !or the thir$ "ear in a ro( in$icates that the State is #la"in& a #olitical &ame an$ is tr"in& to ca#t%re ote 'an2s o! SSC st%$ents@ relati es. The Go ernment also !a%lte$ '" #assin& a resol%tion in the &o ernment+ (herin it sho%l$ ha e intro$%ce$ a 'ill in the Constitution of India - Assignment 1 6

le&islat%re. This a&ain in$icates the #olitical moti es 'ehin$ s%ch a $rastic ste#. Thro%&ho%t the alle&ation+ the State Go ernment has claime$ that the reason !or s%ch a #olic" is that SSC st%$ents are not at #ar (ith st%$ents !rom other 'oar$s an$ ha e a h%&e $isa$ anta&e $%rin& the a$missions. 1o(e er $%rin& the co%rse o! the trial in the 1i&h Co%rt as (ell as the S%#reme Co%rt the" (ere %na'le to s%'stantiate this claim (ith an" e i$ence. /n !act the 1i&h Co%rt also sai$ that the s"stem (as inten$e$ to 'ene!it SSC st%$ents %n$er the E&ar' o! %ni!ormit"@ an$ that the state ha$ Emisera'l" !aile$ to s%'stantiate that SSC st%$ents (ere s%!!erin& !rom a $isa$ anta&e in the a$mission #rocess? The Bom'a" 1i&h Co%rt@s er$ict (as to stri2e $o(n the entire s"stem an$ consi$er all mar2s !or all Boar$s. The res%lt o! this er$ict meant that the State Go ernment (o%l$ ha e to reiss%e the certi!icates (hich in$icate$ onl" the 'est !i e mar2s. To a oi$ this h%&e lo&istical o erhea$+ the state a##eale$ to the S6;R0M0 C=6RT /n m" o#inion+ the 1i&h Co%rt er$ict tr%l" %#hel$ the essence o! Article 14 '" a'olishin& the s"stem alto&ether an$ creatin& a le el #la"in& !iel$. The S%#reme Co%rt er$ict on the other han$ (as to e7ten$ the E'est5!i e@ s"stem to the /CS0 st%$ents as (ell. Altho%&h this %#hol$s the ri&ht to e3%alit"+ in m" o#inion+ there are se eral !la(s to this er$ict The entire s"stem is !a%lt"+ as it enco%ra&es st%$ents to ne&lect one s%'.ect an$ concentrate on the hisJher !i e 'est s%'.ects The er$ict states that /CS0 st%$ents cannot #ic2 their 'est s%'.ect !rom Gro%# ///. /! the" (ish to $o so+ all G s%'.ects (ill 'e consi$ere$ collecti el". There are no s%ch con$itional cla%ses !or SSC st%$ents+ (hich is not !air. CBS0 st%$ents are also at a $isa$ anta&e as the" cannot choose their 'est s%'.ects+ th%s lo(erin& their o erall #ercenta&e. /t (ill also com#licate the a$mission #rocess immensel". )or e7am#le can a st%$ent (ho (ants to a##l" !or science lea e o%t science !rom hisJher 'est !i eK / !eel the S%#reme Co%rt (as ri&ht in 3%estionin& (h" the state &o ernment $i!!erentiate$ amon& st%$ents o! the /CS0 Boar$ (hile a$mittin& them to .%nior colle&es. The EBest o! )i e@ #olic" (as clearl" 'iase$ an$ %n!air a&ainst the st%$ents o! /CS0. /n a$$ition to this+ the state 'oar$ calc%late$ the #ercenta&e o! /CS0 st%$ents 'ase$ on all se en s%'.ects i! the st%$ent has #asse$ in all se en s%'.ects. This also %se$ to #%t the st%$ent (ho clears all se en s%'.ects at a loss. Constitution of India - Assignment 1 7

As there is no %ni!ormit" in the e$%cation s"stem+ this $iscre#anc" is 'o%n$ to 'e there '%t the #olic" too2 $iscrimination to another le el an$ e7ten$in& the #olic" to the /CS0 st%$ents (as the ri&ht thin& to $o. The state has also !aile$ to consi$er the !act that ami$st all the contro ers" an$ liti&ation e er" "ear+ it is the st%$ents+ 'oth !rom /CS0 an$ SSC (ho s%!!er the most. The a$mission #rocess has no( !inall" starte$ on the 1C th *%l"+ 2818 a!ter all the chaos an$ $ela" (ith the $ecision still %#hel$ till =cto'er+ (hich sho(s ho( #oorl" the a$ministration (or2s.

Concl%sion
Tho%&h the S%#reme Co%rt er$ict to e7ten$ the E'est5!i e@ s"stem has 'ro%&ht relie! to stateLs 1C la2h SSC an$ 1H+888 /CS0 an$ CBS0 st%$ents an$ has in essence %#hel$ Article 14+ the a$missions #rocess has 'een $ela"e$ '" t(o (ee2s th%s a lot o! cr%cial time o! the st%$ents has 'een (aste$+ there'" lea$in& to increase$ #ress%re on the st%$ents. / also !eel that the er$ict has 'een $eli ere$ hastil" (itho%t s%!!icient $eli'eration an$ has in a (a" 'een a!!ecte$ '" the short time #erio$ an$ lo&istical constraints s%ch as re5#rintin& o! mar2 sheets. /! at all the Go ernment (ants an" mo$i!ication in the ta'%lation o! mar2s+ s%ch chan&es sho%l$ 'e (or2e$ o%t (ell in a$ ance an$ im#lemente$ ri&ht !rom the 'e&innin& o! the aca$emic "ear. /n m" o#inion+ the 1i&h Co%rt er$ict to stri2e $o(n the entire s"stem (as the 'est $ecision as it #rotects the ri&hts o! the st%$ents. / !eel so 'eca%se the EBest o! )i e@ #olic" (ill still en$ %# 'ein& an %n!air a$ anta&e to less meritorio%s st%$ents. /t (ill 'e a loss !or those (ho score e3%all" (ell in all s%'.ects '%t an a$ anta&e to those (ho $o not score (ell in a #artic%lar s%'.ect. The S%#reme Co%rt (ill #ass a !inal er$ict in =cto'er. / ho#e that the E'est5!i e@ s"stem is a'olishe$ an$ that all st%$ents are treate$ e3%all" $%rin& the a$mission #rocess.

Constitution of India - Assignment 1

Re!erences
S%#reme Co%rt e7ten$s 'est5!i e to /CS0+ <NA /n$ia Bom'a" hi&h co%rt stri2es $o(n 'est5o!5-+ <NA /n$ia State 'oar$ claims ri&ht to !rame r%les+ Times =! /n$ia Best o! - r%le: 4ost time #%ts st%$ents %n$er #ress%re+ Re$i!! Ne(s

Constitution of India - Assignment 1