Bombay HC postpones hearing on plea challenging JEE Main 2023 eligibility criteria

According to the PIL, JEE Main aspirants have demanded 75 per cent and the top 20 percentile criteria should be relaxed for this year’s entrance exam, or lowered to 50 per cent. 

The Bombay High Court has adjourned the hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the eligibility criteria of 75 per cent and top 20 percentile for the Joint Entrance Exam (JEE) Main 2023. It was scheduled for February 21. The next hearing date will be announced soon. 

According to the PIL, JEE Main aspirants have demanded 75 per cent and the top 20 percentile criteria should be relaxed for this year’s entrance exam, or lowered to 50 per cent. 

According to the JEE Advanced 2023 brochure, candidates must have passed Class 12 (or equivalent) exam with 75 per cent marks and for SC/ST and PwD candidates the required marks is 65 per cent. The candidates should be within the top 20 category percentile of the qualifying examination. Top 20 percentile cutoff for 2023 will be considered for those candidates who cleared the Class 12 (or equivalent) exam in the same year.  

Similarly, the cutoff of 2022 will be taken for candidates who qualified the exam in 2022. Candidates who had appeared in Class XII (or equivalent) examination for the first time in 2021 or earlier, are NOT eligible to appear in JEE Advanced 2023, irrespective of the combination of subjects attempted/offered. 

Activist Anubha Srivastava Sahai, who is helping students in raising the matter in the Bombay High Court, said, “Several state boards do not usually declare the top 20 percentile, and it can vary from one state board to another, and from CBSE to CISCE too. For example, if Maharashtra Board has 76 per cent as the top 20 percentile, and Bihar has 65 then it gets unfair for Maharashtra board students, CBSE students and such. The clarity is missing for this criterion, and that is very unfair for students who are currently pursuing JEE this year.”  

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