Allow PIO, OCI students to write CET, govt told

Students from the State, who fall under the PIO (Persons of Indian Origin) and the OCI (Overseas Citizens of India) categories, can now apply for the CET.

The High Court on Friday directed the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) to grant permission to such students, based on an interim order it had issued on August 2015.
S N Gangadhariah, administrative officer, KEA said: “Based on the interim order we are allowing the students to apply for and write the CET. In case, the government files an appeal and court rules in its favour, we will take an appropriate decision. The next step depends on the government.” A release from the KEA said that the application was “subject to final order of the  High Court in respective writ petitions.”

 Dr Sreedhara Rajanna, one of the petitioners in the case said: “Two set of petitioners had approached the court. Despite getting the interim order in August 2016, the KEA did not allow the students to write the test. On Friday, however, we approached the court again, and it directed the KEA to do the needful. A number of states like Kerala and Andhra Pradesh allow the PIO and the OCI students to write their CETs.” Based on this directive, the KEA has already made changes to the online application form, said Rajanna. “Earlier, in the section where an applicant indicated nationality, there was only one option, ‘Indian’. Now, there is an option to indicate PIO or OCI,” he said.   

Editing Option
The KEA is also giving ‘Editing Option’ to candidates, who have already applied and made fee payment, from February 27 to February 29. Candidates, who have given incomplete information/wrong information can edit/ correct the entries made earlier.
DH News Service