Students who discontinued their studies in November 2024 have had their JEE Advanced exam eligibility restored.

The Supreme Court has allowed students who dropped their studies between November 5 and November 18, 2024, to register for the JEE Advanced 2025 exam.

This decision was taken after objections were raised changes to eligibility rules by the Joint Admission Board (JAB)who conducts the exam.

Initially, a press release on November 5, 2024 announced that students who have completed Class 12 in 2023, 2024 and 2025 can appear for the JEE Advanced exam. However, just 13 days later, on November 18, a second press release shortened the eligibility period to just two years – 2024 and 2025.

This sudden change prompted several candidates to question the decision, citing that they had abandoned their studies based on the earlier announcement. The petitioners argued that the amended provision unfairly disqualified them and was contrary to the principle of legitimate expectations.

DECISION OF THE SUPREME COURT

A bench of Justices BR Gavai and Augustine George Masih ruled that students who withdrew from classes between November 5 and 18 can register for JEE Advanced.

The court noted that these students followed the Nov. 5 press release in good faith and should not be penalized for later changing the policy.

While the court refrained from commenting on the merits of JAB’s decision to limit the number of attempts, it allowed these students to appear for the exam, ensuring fairness.

PETITIONERS’ CONCERNS

One of the main criticisms was that limiting attempts would increase stress for students, counteracting previous reforms intended to reduce academic pressure.

The sudden policy reversal was called arbitrary, putting students who made life-changing decisions based on the initial policies at a disadvantage.

Now, with the new ruling, eligible students from this particular window of discontinuation now have the opportunity to pursue their IIT dream. However, this case highlights the need for clear and consistent rules, especially for high-stakes exams like JEE Advanced.

(With PTI inputs)