Cuttack, June 18: Orissa High Court on Monday directed the state government to extend last date for filling forms for admission to the Plus Three courses to June 25. The department of higher education had introduced a compulsory e-admission system for admission to the Plus Three courses and made online application forms available in its website www.dheorissa.in from June 1, while fixing June 18 as the last date for filling forms.
Acting on a PIL challenging the compulsory e-admission system the High Court in an interim order on June 4 said, 'During pendency of the writ petition there is no bar for the students to apply for admission to degree courses during the academic session 2012-13 by filling application manually'.
The department of higher education issued a 'clarification regarding admission procedure to Plus 3 classes in 2012-13' by way of a circular to Principals of all degree colleges on June 11, 2012 following the high court order.
All India Save Education Committee (AISEC) Orissa Chapter Joint Secretary Biswabasu Dash, who had filed the PIL filed a fresh petition seeking direction for extending last date for filling forms.
As June 18 was fixed as last date for filling forms online applicants have been given time from June 1 to 18. But applicants who want to fill forms manually have not been given the same number of days as they are getting time from June 11 to 18. Besides, the applicants who want to fill forms manually are losing three days due to Raja holday (June 14 and 15) and Sunday (June 17), the petition said.
The division bench of Chief Justice V.Gopala.Gowda and Justice S.K.Mishra directed for extending last date for filling forms by seven days, while fixing June 20 for hearing on the main PIL petition.
The PIL had sought striking down of the compulsory e-admission and directions to provide a manual decentralised option to e-admission process.
The petition had sought judicial intervention on the ground that many underprivileged students who have no access to internet facilities will be irreparably prejudiced.
