Mumbai: Maharashtra Government today decided
to approach the Supreme Court after the Bombay High Court
struck down the `best of five` system for admissions in Std XI
on the ground that it was discriminatory.
The decision to move the apex court was taken at a
meeting of the state Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Ashok
Chavan here.
Under the `best of five` system, marks obtained in five
subjects out of total six were to be counted in SSC board`s
Std 10th marks, leaving out the subject with lowest marks.
But, the High Court while clearing the way for admission
process for the next academic year described the system
as discriminatory.
We will try to start admissions to Std XI from July 10,
Chavan said. Around 16 lakh SSC students had studied as per
the best of five system, he said.
The system violates the right to equality guaranteed by
Article 14 of Constitution, a Division Bench of Acting Chief
Justice J N Patel and Justice S C Dharmadhikari said
yesterday.
The state government is of the view that marking systems
of ICSE and CBSE boards were more liberal, which puts students
from the state board (SSC) at a disadvantage, and says that
the best of five system is meant to "bring uniformity".
PTI
