No Stay on KEAM Verdict; Division Bench Refuses to Intervene

Kochi: The Kerala High Court's Division Bench has refused to stay the single bench order that quashed the KEAM (Kerala Engineering, Architecture, and Medical Entrance) rank list. The decision came in response to an appeal filed by the state government challenging the single bench verdict. Justices Anil K Narendran and S Muraleekrishnan clarified that they would not intervene in the single bench's ruling.

The government had argued in court that the modification was introduced as part of a normalisation process aimed at ensuring that entrance exam marks are not affected by the Plus Two board under which a student passed. There have been widespread complaints that the current system gives an unfair advantage to CBSE students. The amendment was implemented based on the recommendations of an expert committee. The appeal also requested a stay on the single bench verdict until the matter was resolved. However, the court did not accept these arguments.

The single bench verdict quashing the rank list was issued by Justice D K Singh, based on a petition filed by Kochi native Hana Fathima and others, who are students following the CBSE syllabus.