Kerala Govt Moves Appeal Before High Court Against Single Bench Order Cancelling KEAM Rank List

The learned Single Judge had found that the amendment made to the prospectus for the examination, just one hour before the publication of the rank list, was unjustified, illegal and arbitrary.

In the amended prospectus, it was stated that the entrance examination marks and class examination marks should be maintained in 50:50 ratio, but in respect of the Maths, Physics, and Chemistry, the marks obtained in +2 examination shall be in the ratio of 5:3:2. However, according to the original prospectus, the ratio for these subjects were 1:1:1.

This change was challenged in the writ petition as being unfairly disadvantageous to students of the CBSE/ICSE syllabus and beneficial to the students of the Kerala syllabus.

The Single Bench had set aside the amended prospectus as well as the published rank list. A direction was also made to publish a new rank list in accordance with the original, unamended prospectus.

The present writ appeal was filed by the Government of Kerala to set aside the decision of the Single Bench.

In the appeal, it is stated that the Government is empowered to make modifications, additions and deletions to the prospectus as per Clause 1.6 of the prospectus, contrary to the finding of the Single Bench.

The amendment was made since it was found to be absolutely necessary to offer a level playing field for all the aspirants, and only after the expert committee reviewed the standardisation process, it is stated.

It is also stated in the appeal that the standardisation formula and its modification come within the domain of the State government, and the Single Bench ought not to have interfered in the same.

The appeal also challenged the finding of the Single Bench that the formula was changed only to benefit the students from the Kerala stream when the authorities found that these students did not perform well in the entrance examination. In appeal, the Government has defended the action taken as bona fide and intended to remove the disparity created with the earlier formula.

It is stated in the appeal that no comparison was made by the Government or the Commissioner of Entrance Examinations to see if any group of students were benefited or adversely affected.

An interim order is also prayed for, seeking to stay the operation of the judgment of the Single Bench till the disposal of the Writ Appeal.

Case Title: State of Kerala v. Hana Fatima Ahinus

Case No: WA 1702/2025