The Supreme Court on Sunday upheld a High Court order allowing Notre Dame College, Holy Cross College and St Joseph College in the capital to enroll students in Class-XI through admission tests.

 

A four-member Appellate Division bench, headed by Chief Justice SK Sinha, passed the order rejecting a petition filed by the state seeking a stay on the HC order, UNB reports.

 

With the SC order, the admission process of the three colleges through test will remain in force, said their lawyers.

 

On May 12, the Education Ministry issued guidelines for admission to Class-XI stating that the admission will be given based on the results of the Secondary School Certificate and its equivalent examinations like the previous years.

 

Principals of the three colleges filed a writ petition with the High Court on May 19 challenging the legality of the guidelines. They also sought permission for admitting students through holding tests.

 

After primary hearing, the court on May 22 stayed the admission guidelines for four months applicable for the three colleges and issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain as to why four sections of the guidelines should not be declared illegal.

 

Later, the state moved the Chamber Judge against the HC order. The court on May 29 did not stay the HC order but sent the petition to the full Appellate Division bench.