JEE Main 2023: PIL Before Bombay High Court To Defer Dates, Petitioner Said- ''Students Are Under A Lot Of Pressure''

The JEE Main 2023 January exam is scheduled between January 24 and January 31.

PIL before Mumbai High Court seeks postponement of JEE Main exam.

Source : ABP News

A public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed before the Bombay High Court on Monday to defer the examination date of JEE Main 2023. The petition has demanded the relaxation of the introduction of 75 percent eligibility criteria by the NTA for appearance. It stated students from the academic year 2020-2021 and 2021-2022, who cleared board examinations during the Covid period, are going to apply for the JEE exam. These students have been assessed on the basis of class performances and other formats, rather than the full board examination format. The marks scored by them are not the true reflection due to the unprecedented Covid related impact on the academic cycle.
 
The PIL also stated that the notification dated 15.12.2022 was issued with short notice for the upcoming JEE Mains Exam scheduled in the month of January 2023. During the same time period, pre-board and practical examinations are scheduled by various state boards.

Students will find it difficult to appear in the JEE Main examination scheduled from January 24 to January 31, 2023, as it will affect their academic career, the PIL argues.

"This year notification of JEE Main Exam was released at very short notice and due to this several students who are appearing for boards were under a lot of pressure. Some board practicals and Viva are scheduled during the JEE MAINS 2023, as well as the National Defence Academy Services Selection Board Interview," said the petitioner Anubha Sahai, a lawyer and President of India Wide Parents Association against the National Testing Agency (NTA), told ABP Live.
 
"Several students have approached me regarding this issue. They have made representation to the authorities. However, their concerns have not been addressed, and we were left with no option but to approach the court. The government should consider their genuine demands and provide relief...," Sahai said while speaking to ABP Live.

What Are The Concerns Of Students?

''I passed out class 12 in 2022 from up board & got only 67 percent due to COVID. Our classes started late. I took a drop for the preparation of JEE Mains. Now NTA added 75% criteria to appear in the exam. I just want that the 75% criteria should be removed and the exam to be rescheduled for April because we also want some time for preparation. My dad took a loan to send me to Kota. If the criteria is not removed, then what will I do?..,'' told an aspirant Harshit while speaking to ABP Live.

An aspirant Aabhas told ABP Live: "As a 12th student of the CBSE board, my first concern is why NTA announced dates in a very short time period. The gap between the Board exam and JEE exam is very less. Just 40 days before the exam, authorities released the dates. My Pre-Boards are from January 1 to January 15. I don't know how to manage the different exams.''

Another aspirant lakshita said, ''NEET Aspirants got their date 4 months prior and we just got our date 40 days before the exam. As you see JEE is the second toughest exam in India which is given by 17 years old like me.''

What Is 75 Percent Criteria In JEE Main?

As per NTA, the 75% criteria states that students need to score at least 75% in the class 12th board exam or the top 20 percentile in the equivalent exam, then only they will be eligible to sit for the JEE exam. There is relaxation given in 75% criteria to SC and ST category candidates. For SC and ST category, 65% is mandatory in the 12th board exam to be eligible for JEE Exam.