Case Note & Summary
The dispute arose from the admission process for M.B.B.S. courses in Uttar Pradesh, where candidates challenged the validity of answers provided in a Multiple Choice Objective Type Test. The appellants, who were candidates, contended that the key answers supplied by the paper-setter for certain questions were incorrect according to recognized textbooks. They sought an addition of marks based on their answers, which they argued were correct. The University rejected their claims, leading to appeals in the Supreme Court after the High Court dismissed their writ petitions. The court analyzed the validity of the key answers and the students' responses, determining that if the key answer was demonstrably wrong, penalizing students for not conforming to it would be unjust. For one question, both the key answer and the students' answers were deemed incorrect, while for another question, the court found that the absence of a specified range in the question made the students' answer correct. Consequently, the court allowed one student's appeal for admission while dismissing the others, emphasizing the importance of fairness in examination standards.
Headnote
A) Education Law - Admission Criteria - Validity of Key Answers - Constitution of India, 1950, Articles 226 & 136 - The court held that if the key answer provided by the paper-setter is demonstrably wrong, it would be unfair to penalize students for not conforming to it. In this case, both the key answer and the students' answers were found incorrect for one question, while for another question, the student was entitled to admission based on the correct interpretation of the question. Held that only one student was entitled to admission (Paras 988-991).
Issue of Consideration
Whether the key answers provided for the entrance examination were correct and if the students were entitled to admission based on their answers.
Final Decision
The court allowed the appeal of Kumari Sunita Khare for admission to the M.B.B.S. course, while dismissing the other appeals without costs.
Law Points
- Admission criteria
- Multiple Choice Objective Type Test
- Key answer validity
- Fairness in examination
- Educational standards
