How Kerala's KEAM 'formula' fell flat

Good intentions or not, a plan executed without any legal provision is doomed to fail in court. Officials are made to carry out certain illegal provisions due to pressure from political leadership, albeit knowing what awaits in store. More than anyone, the government are aware of this scenario, yet they moved ahead with a last-minute change in marking methods for the KEAM entrance.

The Supreme Court has ruled that it is illegal to make decisions and conduct admissions contrary to the provisions mentioned in the prospectus. The Kerala KEAM results were not declared as per the provisions mentioned in the prospectus. The new formula for determining the weightage score was introduced an hour before the declaration of the results to help the state syllabus students. Applications were invited as per the prospectus that has been in place since 2011.

The court demanded that a new rank list, conforming to the former prospectus, be prepared and published soon. Thousands of students and their parents are eagerly waiting for the entrance results to expedite the admission process. It is a pity that the government messed up yet another serious task, leaving poor students in a muddle.

The High Court Division Bench's order was in response to a petition filed by CBSE students against the new marking method. Petitions were also filed by state syllabus students seeking to maintain their ranks. CBSE students argued on how the new marking methods saw their ranks drop far below those of state syllabus students. The court quizzed the government's sudden decision to bring changes in the prospectus that had remained untouched for the last 14 years.

The new formula could have been prepared in advance, inviting discussions on the topic. Then the government could have moved ahead with introducing the changes. It is not the officials who introduced the formula who are bearing the brunt but poor students who toiled day and night for the exams. Higher Education Minister R. Bindu defended the new prospectus, saying it upheld equality in mark distribution. However, the minister should also explain why the government failed to convince the court on this matter. A delayed admission would see more students jumping ship to neighbouring states for higher education. The setback would come full circle then.