Register OCI students for CET: K'taka HC directs KEA

Bengaluru: The Karnataka High court has directed the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) to allow the 45 students holding Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cards to take up Common Entrance Test (CET) 2021.

Justice Sachin Shankar Magadum passed the order after hearing the petition filed by Alekhya Ponnekanti and several others questioning the notification dated March 4, 2021, issued by the Central government stating that they are not eligible for any seats reserved exclusively for Indian citizens.

The petitioners contend that since they are denied the right to register for CET-2021, they will be denied the opportunity to participate in the counselling process. The advocates submitted that the petitioners ought to be treated on a different footing as they have domiciled in India and pursued their schooling for more than seven years.

They also contended that CET covers not only the government seats but also institutional seats, filled by private unaided educational institutions through CET.

“I am of the opinion that if the petitioners are not registered with the KEA, they will be put to irreparable loss and it may even take away their future prospects,” the judge noted.