Can't play with career of students: SC refuses to postpone GATE 2022

The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected a plea for postponing the GATE-2022 (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering Exam), saying this will create "chaos and uncertainty" for the students registered for the test, being conducted from February 5 for admission to Post Graduate and doctoral degrees in engineering colleges.

A bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud, Surya Kant and Vikram Nath said the court is not willing to entertain a petition 48 hours before the exam, as there were no overarching reasons to supplant duties and responsibilities of regulatory authorities.

Over nine lakh students are expected to appear for the GATE-2022. Some students approached the court for postponing it, citing third wave of Covid-19 pandemic.

"There is no overarching reason for this court to exercise its jurisdiction under Article 32 of the Constitution, to supplant the duties and functions of the regulatory authorities who have taken a decision in connection with the schedule of the exam," the bench sajd.

The bench also pointed out everything is opening up and it is not correct for courts to step into academic matters.

Advocate Satpal Singh, representing a petitioner, said holding the exam is unfair as many state governments have imposed a lockdown on weekends. He asked the court to direct the IIT-Kharagpur, the organising institute for GATE 2022, to defer the exam for a month.

The bench, however, said some candidates approached the court but many others have already prepared for the exam.

"Look at the legitimacy of courts entering into these thickets. Just because some states have issues, how do we play with the careers of all students," the bench said.

It also pointed out that the exams were notified in August last year and nine Lakh are appearing for it, and 20,000 have signed an online petition. “Only authorities can look into this," the bench said.

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