Supreme Court of India
STATE OF TAMIL NADU AND ANR.versusS.V. BRATHEEP (MINOR) AND ORS.
- Citation
- 2004 INSC 171
- Decided
- 16 March 2004
- Bench
- S RAJENDRA BABU
Holding
The State Government may prescribe higher eligibility marks for admission to engineering colleges than those prescribed by AICTE, provided such standards are not lower or adverse to AICTE norms and are realistic.
Summary
The State of Tamil Nadu issued government orders fixing higher minimum percentage marks for admission to engineering colleges than those prescribed by the AICTE. Several students challenged the orders, and the Madras High Court struck them down, holding they conflicted with AICTE norms. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined whether the State could prescribe higher eligibility criteria without contravening the AICTE standards under the Constitution’s entries on education. It held that the State may set higher qualifications provided they are not lower than AICTE norms and are realistic, and that such standards are complementary, not adverse, to the Union’s standards. Consequently, the Supreme Court partially allowed the appeals, modified the High Court order, and upheld the validity of admissions made under the State’s higher standards. The special leave petitions were dismissed.
Issues considered
- Whether the norms prescribed by the State Government are contradictory to the norms fixed by the AICTE or merely higher qualifications above the AICTE minimum.
- Whether the State can prescribe higher eligibility marks for engineering admissions under Entry 25 of List III without violating the Union’s power under Entry 66 of List I.
- Whether the higher standards prescribed by the State are realistic and attainable.
- Whether the High Court erred in striking down the State's government orders.
Subjects
Admission standardsAICTEState government normsHigher educationConstitution of IndiaEntry 66 List IEntry 25 List IIIEngineering collegesEligibility marks
Judgment
I...
'
A STATE OF TAMIL NADU AND ANR.
v.
S.V. BRA THEEP (MINOR) AND ORS.
MARCH 16, 2004
B [S. RAJENDRA BABU, DR. AR. LAKSHMANAN
AND G.P. MATHUR, JJ.]
-
University:
C Admission-Engineering colleges-State Government prescribed standard
for admission to Engineering colleges which were different from those
prescribed by All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE)-Validity
of-Held: State Government competent to ftx higher qualifications than those
prescribed by AICTE-But such standards should always be realistic and
D attainable-However, such standards should not be adverse to or lower than
those provided by AJCTE-State Government also entitled to prescribe higher
marks than the minimum ftxed by AICTE for participation in the Common
Entrance Test-Constitution of India, 1950-Sch. VII List I Entry 66 and List
II Entry 25.
E The Higher Education Department of the appellant-State issued
G.O.Ms prescribing qualification or minimum eligible marks for SC/ST
as mere pass, most backward at 50% average marks in the related subjects
and other classes at 60% average marks in related subjects.
The respondents filed a writ petition before the High Court for
F quashing of t_he said G.O.Ms and for a direction to consider their admission
to engineering colleges without reference to the minimum eligible marks
prescribed by the appellant. A Single Judge dismissed the writ petition.
On appeal, High Court held that there was a glaring difference in the
norms fixed by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE)
G and the norms fixed by the State Government, and struck down the
G.O.Ms. Hence the appeals and the SLPs.
The following question arose before the Court:
H
"Whether the norms prescribed by the State Government are
1218
-
STATE v. S.V. BRATHEEP . 1219
1 contradictory to the norms fixed by the AICTE or are only in the nature A
of higher qualifications above the minimum prescribed by AICTE for
admission to the Engineering Colleges?"
Partly allowing the appeal and dismissing the SLPs, the Court
HELD: 1.1. Entry 25 of List III and Entry 66 of List I have to be B
read together and it cannot be read in such a manner as to form an
exclusivity in the matter of admission but if certain prescription of
standards have been made pursuant to Entry 66 of List I, then those
- standards will prevail over the standards fixed by the State in exercise of
powers under Entry 25 of List III insofar as they adversely affect the
standards laid ~own by the Union of India or any other authority
c
""" functioning under it. [1225-B-C)
1.2. But if higher minimum is prescribed by the State Government
than what had been prescribed by the AICTE, it cannot be said that it is
in any manner adverse to the standards fixed by the AICTE or reduces D
the standard fixed by it. (1225-E]
2. If the norms fixed by the AICTE would allow admission only on
the basis of the marks obtained in the qualifying examination then the
additional test made applicable is the common entrance test by the State
Government. If the standard fixed by the AICTE is considered to be the E
-- common entrance test then the prescription made by the State Government
of having obtained certain marks higher than the minimum in the
qualifying examination in order to be eligible to participate in the common
e.ntrance test is in addition to the common entrance test. In either event,
the streams proposed by the AICTE are not belittled in any manner. The
ma.oner in which the High Court has proceeded is that what bas been F
prescribed by the AICTE is inexorable and that, that minimum alone
should be taken into consideration and no other standard could be fixed,
even the higher. {1225-F-G]
Dr. Preeti Srivastava v. State of MP., {1999) 7 SCC 120, relied on.
G
J.. The standards fixed should always be realistic which are
- attainable and are within the reach of the candidates. It cannot be said
that the prescriptions by the State Government in addition to those of
AICTE in the present case are such which are not attainable or which are
not within the reach of the candidates who seek admission for engineering H
1220 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2004) 2 S.C.R.
A colleges. 1t is not a very high percentage of marks that has been prescribed
as minimum of 60% downwards, but definitely higher than the mere pass
r
marks. (1226-A-B)
State of TN. v. Adhiyaman Educational Research Institute, (1995) 4 SCC
104, relied on.
B
4.l. Excellence in higher education is always insisted upon by a
series of decisions of this Court. If higher minimum marks have been
prescribed, it would certainly add to _the excellence in the matter of
admission of the students in higher education. (1226-B-C]
c Dr. Preeti Srivastava v. State of MP., (1999) 7 SCC 120, relied on. ---
I":·
....
4.2. The State can always fix a further qualifica~ion or additional
qualification to what has been prescribed by the AICTE. It is immaterial
that there ·would be vacancies in the colleges. Therefore, it is difficult to
subscribe to the view that once they are qualified under the criteria fixed
D by the AICTE they should be admitted even if they fall short of the criteria f
prescribed by ~he State.
Dr. Preeti Srivastava v. State of MP., [1999) 7 SCC 120 and State of
T.N. v. Adhiyaman Educational Research Institute, [1995) 4 SCC 104, relied
o.n. [1226-D-E]
E
5. It is not possible to sustain the argument that the criteria fixed ~-.
by the AICTE was to be adopted by the respective colleges and once such
prescription had been made it was not open to the Government to
prescribe further standards particularly when they had established the
F institutions in exercise of their fundamental rights guaranteed under
Article 19 of the Constitution. Prescription of standards in education is ~
always accepted to be an appropriate exercise of power by the bodies
recognising the colleges or granting affiliation, like AICTE or the
University. If in exercise of such power the prescription had been made,
it cannot be said that the whole matter has been foreclosed. [1227-A-C]
G
Islamic Academy ofEducation v. State of Karnataka, [~003) 6 SCC 691
and T.MA. Pai Foundation v. State of Karnataka, [2002] 8 SCC 481, relied ~
on. '
6. It is permissible for the State Government to prescribe higher ----
H .qualifications for the purposes of admission to the engineering colleges
.,·
. , STATE v. S.V. BRATHEEP [RA.IENDRA BABU, J.]
than what had been prescribed by the AICTE. What has been prescribe~
by the State is not contrary to the same but is only complementary or
1221
A
supplementary to it.
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Civil Appeal No. 1626-1628 of
2004.
B
From the Judgment and Order dated 17. I 0.2003 of the Madras High
Court in W.A. Nos. 2596, 2934 and 2738 of 2003.
WITH
C.A. Nos. 1629-163 I of 2004. c
' Mukul Rohtagi, Additional Solicitor General, P.P. Rao, Rakesh Dwivedi,
G.T. Sanghi, Dr. Rajeev Dhavan, Arvind P. Datar, R. Ayyam Perumal, S.
Vallmayagam, Mrs. Mahalakshmi Pauani, C.B.N. Babu, Bimal Roy Jad,
Jayakumar, D. Selvam, Rakesh K. Sharma, A.V. Rangam, A. Ranganathan,
Buddy Ranganathan, P.R. Gopinath, V. Krishna Murthy, T. Harish Kumar, D
V. Kirshnamurty and Prasanth for the appearing parties.
The Judgment of the Court was delivered by
RAJENDRA BABU, J. Civil Appeals Nos. 1626-1628 of 2004 (@
S.L.P. (C) Nos. 20756-20758/2003 and Civil Appeals Nos. 1629-1631/2004 E
-- (@ S.L.P. Nos. 20901-20903/2003)
Leave granted in the special leave petitions.
In these matters, writ petitions were filed in_ the High Court of Madras
--- seeking for a writ or order or direction to quash G.O.Ms. Dated 29.6.2002
and 13.2.2003 issued by the Higher Education Department in so far as the
respondents were concerned and to direct the appellants and others to consider
their admission to engineering colleges without reference to the minimum
eligible marks prescribed by the appellants.
F
The learned Single Judge of the High Court,_who examined the matter, G
held that the prescription of qualifications or prescription of the minimum
eligible marks for SC/ST as mere pass, most backward at 50% average marks
in the related subjects, backward at 55% average marks in the related subjects
~
and other classes at 60% average marks in the related subjects, would not be
in conflict with the Regulations of All India Council for Technical Education H
1222 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2004) 2 S.C.R.
A [AICTE] and, therefore, dismissed the writ petitions. On appeal, a Division ( ·~
Bench of the High Court held that there-is a glaring difference in the norms
fixed by AICTE and the norms fixed by the State Government, and struck
down the same and issued the following directions:
"I. The admission of those students who had appeared for the
B TNPCEE' 03 but had not secured the prescribed minimum aggregate
marks in their Higher Secondary examinations would be regularised.
2. No action need be taken against those Engineering colleges for
having breached the norms of the State Government and no
proceedings of dissatisfaction need be started against them on that
c count alone. The State Government shall, within three weeks from
today, with notices to all the Engineering colleges in the State start'
the process of locating the students by giving such students an
opportunity to vie for the seats .in the Engineering colleges. If any of
such students have already been admitted, as we have stated earlier, ·
their admissions shall be regularised. However, we make it clear that
D '•
all the students who are going to be benefited by this judgment must
have appeared for the Tamil Nadu Professional Courses Entrance
Examinations'03 held by the State Government.
3. Since the learned counsel appearing for the Anna University
E pointed out that admissions in this late juncture are likely to affect the
University attendance regulations, we also direct that the shortage in
the attendance of such students shall be compensated by holding
special classes on Saturdays, Sundays and other holidays. Learned
counsel appearing on behalf of the Engineering institutions have
undertaken that teaching staff who are engaged for holding such special
F classes shall be paid extra and that no amount shall be collected by
the institutions form the students.
4. The writ petitions filed by the individual students shall stand allowed
only if such students have tak~ part in the common entrance test
Tamil Nadu Professional Courses Entrance Examinations'03.
G
5. We make it clear that all these directions apply only for the academic
year 2003-04."
Though this Court while entertaining these matters directed that status
quo should be maintained as on the date of the judgment in relation to
H admission of students in engineering colleges, it is stated that several students
ST ATE v. S.V. BRA THEEP [RAJENDRA BABU. J] 1223
in question had been admitted who fulfilled the terms stated by the Division A
Bench of the High Court and they have been allowed to take the examinations
also. In these circumstances, the appellant does not contest their admissions
and it is only for purposes of examination of the correct position in law that
the State and the University are pursuing these matters. Therefore, that aspect
of the matter need not detain us any longer. We think, submission made on
behalf of the parties is reasonable and the admissions made so long as they B
conform to the norms issued by the High Court should not be disturbed.
We shall now examine only the question posed before us as to whether
the norms prescribed by the State Government are contradictory to the nonns
fixed by AICTE or are only in the nature of higher qualifications above the C
minimum prescribed by AICTE for admission to the Engineering Colleges.
AICTE prescribed in their Guidelines for the relevant period as follows:
"I . I . Qualification for admission of General Category Students:
The minimum qualification for admission to degree programmes in D
Engineering should be a pass in the 10+2 (Senior Secondary) Examination
with a minimum aggregate of 60 percent marks in Physics, Chemistry and
Mathematics obtained in a single sitting. The duration of degree programme
in Engineering will be 4 years after 12th standard. This will apply to cases
where admissions are based on the marks in the qualifying examination and
not on the basis of entrance tests .................. " E
..J-- "1.3. Entrance Tests
All States/Union territories (Uts) should conduct entrance tests in the
subjects of Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics at 12+1evel. The entrance
test should be common to all Engineering degree institutions in the State/Uts. F
The minimum marks from eligibility for the entrance test need not be
prescribed in the case of degree courses and all students who have passed the
qualifying examination may be permitted to appear in the entrance test. Only
the merit ranking in the entrance test should be the basis for admission to
engineering degree programmes. Such tests should be conducted by appropriate G
agencies set up for the purpose."
While the Government provided for the basic qualification for eligibility
is as adverted to by us earlier. The High Court found that there are two
streams of admission of students as prescribed by AICTE, namely,
H
1224 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2004] 2 S.C.R.
A (i) Those who were admitted on the basis of the marks secured in
the qualifying examinations only; and
(ii) Those who are admitted on the basis of the marks secured in the
Common Entrance Test held by the State or the Union Territories.
B, / Tue High Court is of !he view that AICTE has contemplated two
categories of students seeking for admission as noted by us above and there
is no other category of students contemplated by the AICTE who are aspiring
to apply for engineering seat. Therefore, the norms fixed by the State is in
a stark contradiction of the norms fixed by the AICTE. To arrive ·at this
C
conclusion, the High Court very strongly relied upon the decision of this
Court in State of T.N. and Anr. v. Adhiyaman Educational & Research
Institute and Ors., [ 1995) 4. SCC 104.
-
As regards the scope of the Entries in the Constitution arising under
Entry 66 of List I and Entry 25 of List III of the Seventh Schedule to the
Constitution was examined in great detail by a constitution Bench of this
D Court in Dr. Preeti Srivastava and Anr. v. State of MP. and Ors., [1999] 7
SCC 120. After adverting to these two entries in the Seventh Schedule, this
Court stated as follows:
"Both the Union as well as the States have the power to legislate
on education including medical education, subject, inter alia, to Entry
E 66 of List I which deals with laying down standards in institutions for
higher education or research and scientific and technical institutions
as also coordination of such standards. A State has, therefore, the
right to control education including medical education so long as the
field is not occupied by any Union legislation. Secondly, the State
F cannot, while controlling education in the State, impinge on standards
in institutions for higher education. Because this is exclusively within
the purview of the Union Government. Therefore, while prescribing
the criteria for admission to the institutions for higher education
including higher medical education, the State cannot adversely affect
the standards laid down by the Union of India under Entry 66 of List
G I. Secondly, while considering the cases on the subject it is also
necessary to remember that from 1977, education, including, inter
a/ia, medical and university education, is now in the Concurrent List
so that the Union can legislate on admission criteria also. If it does
so, the State will not be able to legislate in this field, except as
provided in Article 254.
H
STATE v. S.V. BRATHEEP [RAJEt-JDRA BABU. J.) 1225
It would not be correct to say that the norms for admission have A
no connection with the standard of education, or that the rules for
admission are covered only by Entry 25 of List III. Norms of admission
can have a direct impact on the standards of education. Of course,
there can be rules for admission which are consistent with or do not
affect adversely the standards of education prescribed by the Union B
--
in exercise of powers under Entry 66 of List I. For example, a State
may, for admission to the postgraduate medical courses, lay down
qualifications in addition to those prescribed under Entry 66 of List
I.. This would be consistent with promoting higher standards for
admission to the higher educational courses. But any lowering of the
norms laid down can and does have an adverse effect on the standards C
of education in the institutes of higher education ......... "[p.154]
Entry 25 of List III and Entry 66 of List I have to be read together and
it cannot be read in such a manner as to from an exclusivity in the matter of
admission but if certain prescription of standards have been made pursuant
to Entry 66 of List I, then those standards will prevail over the standards· D
fixed by the State in exercise of powers under Entry 25 of List III insofar as
they adversely affect the standards-laid down by the Union of India or any
other authority functioning under it. Therefore, what is to be seen in the
present case is whether the prescription of the standards made by the State
Government is in any way adverse to, or lower than, the standards fixed by E
the AICTE. It is no doubt true that the AICTE prescribed two modes of
admission - One is merely dependent on the qualifying examination and the
other dependent upon the marks obtained at the Common Entrance Test. The
appellant in the present case prescribed the qualification of having secured
certain percentage of marks in the related subjects which is higher than the
minimum in the qualifying examination in order to be eligible for admission. F
- If higher minimum is prescribed by the State Government than what had
been prescribed by the AICTE, can it be said that it is in any manner adverse
to the standards fixed by the AICTE or reduces the standard fixed by it? In
our opinion, it does not. On the other hand, if we proceed on the basis that
the norms fixed by the AICTE would allow admission only on the basis of
the marks obtained in the qualifying examination the additional test made G
applicable is the common entrance test by the State Government. If we proceed
to take the standard fixed by the AICTE to be the common entrance test then
the prescription made by the State Government of having obtained certain
marks higher than the minimum in the qualifying examination in order to be
eligible to participate in the common entrance test is in addition to the common H
1226 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2004) 2 S.C.R.
A entrance test. In either event, the streams proposed by the AICTE are not
belittled in any manner. The manner in which the High Court has proceeded
is that what has been prescribed by the AICTE is inexorable and that that
minimum alone should be taken into consideration and no other standard
could be fixed even the higher as stated by this Court in Dr. Preeti Srivastava's
B case. It is no doubt true as noticed by this Court in Adhiyaman's case that
there may be situations when a large number of seats may fall vacant on
account of the higher standards fixed. The standards fixed should always be
realistic which are attainable and are within the reach of the candidates. It
cannot be said .that the prescriptions by the State Government in addition to
those of AICTE in the present case are such which are not attainable or
C which are not within the reach of the candidates who seek admission for
engineering colleges. It is not very high percentage of marks that has been
prescribed as minimum of 60% downwards, but definitely higher than the
mere pass marks. Excellence in higher education is always insisted upon by
series of decisions of this Court including Dr. Preeti Srivastava's case. If
higher minimum marks have been prescribed, it would certainly add to the
D excellence in the matter of admission of the students in higher education.
Argument advanced on behalf of the respondents is that the purpose of
fixing norms by the AICTE is to ensure uniformity with extended access of
educational opportunity and such norms should not be tinkered with by the
E State in any manner. We are afraid, this argument ignores the view taken by
this Court in ·several decisions including Dr. Preeti Srivastav's case that the
State can always fix a further qualification or additional qualification to what
has been prescribed by the AICTE and that proposition is indisputable. The
mere fact that there are vacancies in the colleges would not be a matter,
which. would go into the question of fixing the standard of education.
F Therefore, it is difficult to subscribe to the view that once they are qualified
under the criteria fixed by the AICTE they should be admitted even if they.
fall short of the criteria prescribed by the State. The scope of the relative
entries in the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution have to be understood in
the manner as stated in the Dr. Preeti Srivastava's case and, therefore, we
G 'need not further elaborate in this c·ase or consider arguments to the contrary
such as application of occupied theory no power could be exercised under
Entry 25 of List III as they would not arise for consideration.
The argument advanced on behalf of the respondents that these matters
are indeed governed by the decision in Islamic Academy of Education and
H Anr. v. State of Karnataka and Ors., [2003] 6 SCC 697, and T.MA. Pai
STATE v. S.V. BRATHEEP [RAJENDRA BABU, J.] 1227
Foundation v. State of Karnataka, [2002] 8 SCC 481. In fact this Court did A
not consider the question that has arisen for our consideration in the present
case but was dealing with entirely different issue in relation to fee structure
of minority and non-minority educational institutions and whether private
unaided professional colleges are entitled to fill their seats to the full extent
by their own method of admission. That is not the issue before us at all.
Therefore, no reliance could be placed by the respondents on the decisions B
either in TMA Pai Foundation or Islamic Academy case.
One other argument is further advanced before us that the criteria fixed
by the AICTE was to be adopted by the respective colleges and once such
prescription had been made it was not open to the Government to prescribe C
further standards particularly when they had established the institutions in
exercise of their fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 19 of the
Constitution. However, we do not think this argument can be sustained in any
manner. Prescription of standards in education is always accepted to be an
appropriate exercise of power by the bodies recognising the colleges or
granting affiliation, like AICTE or the University. If in exercise of such D
power the prescription had been made, it cannot be said that the whole matter
has been foreclosed.
In this view of the matter, we think these appeals deserve to be allowed
in part and the order of the High Court stands modified to the extent of
stating that it is permissible for the State Government to prescribe higher E
qualifications for purposes of admission to the engineering colleges than
what had been prescribed by the AICTE and what has been prescribed by the
State and considered by us is not contrary to the same but is only
complementary or supplementary to it.
It is made clear that if any admission has been made in any of the
F
colleges of students who fulfil the directions issued by the High Court, their
admissions shall be taken to have been made validly.
The appeals are partly allowed accordingly.
S.LP [CJ Nos. 24043/2003, 23-24/2004, 1038-1039/2004 and 21966/2003
G
The High Court coP.sidered the case of the students in these colleges
who did not appear in the common entrance test but appeared for the private
entrance tests conducted by the respective engineering colleges and they
could be admitted to the engineering colleges on the basis of their performance H
1228 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2004] 2 S.C.R.
A in such private entrance test. The mere fact that Anna University allowed all
the engineering colleges to conduct entrance test by the concerned colleges
cannot militate against the prescription of standards of excellence in education
both by the AICTE and Department of Higher Education. The High Court
rejected the same on the basis that the AICTE had already formulated the
B policy and that policy had to be strictly followed by the concerned colleges
as long as students had not fulfilled those minimum qualifications prescribed
by the AICTE but only passed in a private entrance test would not be qualified
for admission to the engineering colleges is perfectly in order and does not
call for interference.
c Hence, the special leave petitions stand· rejected.
v.s.s. Appeals partly allowed and Petitions dismissed.
,~
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