Order From The Supreme Court Regarding Sports Quotas: A Comprehensive Analysis

Dev Gupta, who was turned away for admission due to the sports quota, petitioned the Supreme Court, which was now hearing it

On Thursday, the Supreme Court overturned a decision by the Chandigarh High Court that required an applicant to receive 75% of the possible points in order to be admitted under the sports quota. The PEC (Punjab Engineering College) University of Technology imposed the requirement, and the high court affirmed it. The Supreme Court ruled that the requirement was “discriminatory” and violated Article 14’s equality clause since it was so. Dev Gupta’s case was being heard after he was refused admission because he did not receive 75% of the possible points in his Class 12 test.

A sports quota: what is it?

It is a plan that relaxes academic performance requirements while reserving college spaces for deserving students. The government also provides financial assistance to athletes through sports quotas.

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Government positions also adhere to the sports quota, and a committee will typically provide an eligibility certificate after confirming the candidate’s diplomas and medals.

What regulations govern PEC?

Sportspeople have been given 2% of the seats available at Punjab Engineering College in a variety of categories. The benefit will only be offered to the category of students who pass their qualifying exams as regular students, from schools and colleges located in the Union Territory of Chandigarh and recognized by the administration.

Additionally, it includes 29 sporting disciplines that will be taken into account for admittance under this category.

The petitioner’s words?

According to Mr. Gupta’s attorney, the criterion to receive 75% of the possible points violates the purpose of the sports quota because it expects athletes to demonstrate the same level of academic brilliance as other applicants.

PS Patwalia, an advocate, added that the sports quota had not before been held to such a high standard.

The college’s justifications

According to the respondent’s attorney, 28 of the 34 applicants met the requirements for admission, and 16 of the 17 available seats have already been filled. He further warned the Supreme Court that if it intervened at this point, the allocations previously made would be severely disrupted.

What was said by the Supreme Court?

The court ruled that the introduction of the sports quota served the objective of promoting and encouraging individuals who achieved a particular level of required proficiency and success in specific competitive sports.

This quota was instituted in order to encourage athletics and good sportsmanship in educational settings. Given its special requirements, the state is well within its powers to set a minimum qualifying level or set of qualifications as the entry point for admission to any given course, according to the two-judge panel of Justice S Ravindra Bhat and Justice Aravind Kumar.

The policy’s goal of promoting sports in educational institutions cannot, however, be frustrated by the condition, it was underlined.