SC asks Odisha JEE to conduct special test

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Aug 29:

Much to the embarrassment of the state government, the Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Odisha Joint Entrance Examination (OJEE) to conduct a special test for admission of the students for over more than 38,0000 vacant seats.

“The schedule for conducting the special OJEE will be submitted before the apex court today”, said Supreme Court advocate Pinky Anand.

She said the state government has reconsidered the entire matter and decided to hold a special OJEE as directed by the High Court of Odisha in the interest of the students concerned.

The directive of the apex court came after hearing an intervention application was filed by the Odisha Technical Colleges Association (OTCA).

It may be mentioned that over 38,000 seats had fallen vacant after the final allotment list was announced by the OJEE.

Later, the Odisha Private Engineering Colleges’ Association (OPECA) had moved the Odisha High Court for conduct of special OJEE and received an order in its favour.

Challenging the High Court order, the OJEE authorities later moved the Supreme Court. The apex court had then ordered a stay on the special OJEE test in the state.

However, the OTCA later moved the apex court with an intervention application to lift its stay order by considering the large number of vacant seats and the future of the students of Odisha.