Best-five case: State appeals in SC; hearing today

The Maharashtra government on Monday challenged in the Supreme Court the Bombay High Court order that struck down its Best-5 formula for calculating the percentage for SSC students in order to admit them to junior college.

The Maharashtra government on Monday challenged in the Supreme Court the Bombay High Court order that struck down its Best-5 formula for calculating the percentage for SSC students in order to admit them to junior college.

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In its appeal, the state has asked for an immediate stay of the high court order so it can start the admission process, on hold because of the June 23 judgement.

The hearing is likely to be on Tuesday itself.

State Education Minister Balasaheb Thorat said: “We have engaged senior advocate Soli Sorabjee for the case.”

The state said in its appeal that it would have to re-declare the results of 16 lakh SSC students if the Best-5 formula, which allowed students’ aggregate percentage to be calculated on the basis of the five best scores out of six subjects, cannot be followed.

The state also pointed out that the petition challenging its decision was filed late, close to the declaration of SSC results, though the process to amend the rule began in October 2009 and was completed in February. SSC students had prepared for the exams accordingly, it said.