SC allows IRMA to conduct separate test

The Institute of Rural Management, Anand's (IRMA) attempt to retain its own entrance exam for the 2013-2015 batch succeeded with the Supreme Court on Tuesday giving its nod to the premier institute to conduct its test separately for this year.

While clarifying that the permission was given in peculiar facts of the case and it will not act as a precedent for IRMA or any other institution, the apex court also asked the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) to consider having an all India common entrance test for all institutes, offering post-graduate rural management courses.

"Having regard to the facts of the case and that substantial progress has been made for conducting the exam for PGDM course and further that the exam is scheduled for November 11, we permit the petitioner to hold the admission exam as already fixed," ordered a Bench of Justices R M Lodha and A R Dave.

Underlining that students' interests had to be paramount in matters relating to admissions and entrance tests, the Bench found favour with a proposition that the AICTE should design a common entrance test for all such institutes that offer rural management courses.

Advocate Harish Salve, who appeared for IRMA, had requested the court to allow them have a separate entrance test at least for this year and that the AICTE should mull over designing a separate common entrance test for rural management courses. Appearing for the AICTE, advocate Rakesh Dwivedi submitted that they were not averse to any fresh idea and that the AICTE will consider the suggestion.

The Bench will now take up the matter after six weeks.

IRMA last month filed a petition against AICTE, which had asked b-schools to take any of the five exams that include CAT, CMA Test and Xavier Admission Test.

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