The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a petition challenging a rule that requires JEE (Advanced) candidates to secure 75 per cent marks in Class XII board exams for admission to the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).

The apex court made it clear that these issues are best left to the wisdom of academicians and experts.

A bench of Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia and Justice K.V. Viswanathan rejected the argument of the petitioners that the National Testing Agency be directed to do away with the 75 per cent criterion, which was waived during the Covid-19 pandemic but was later revived.

Justice Dhulia, who headed the bench, told the counsel appearing for the petitioners that the 75 per cent rule was in vogue before the pandemic and was waived as a special measure during the Covid-19 crisis.

“This condition was always there. Why should we interfere with it now?” Justice Dhulia said, adding, “This is a not matter we want to get into.”

The petitioners were represented by advocates Harvinder Chowdhury and Jai Vardhan.

The counsel argued that hundreds of meritorious students who have scored over 90 per cent marks in JEE (Mains) can’t appear forJEE (Advanced) as their Class XII score is less than 75 per cent.

Justice Viswanathan said: “We cannot interfere. These are education matters. We have to leave the issue to the experts.”

The apex court also wondered how the students can directly approach the Supreme Court under Article 32 instead of approaching the high court concerned. The counsel’s argument that the issue has pan-India implications failed to convince the bench.

The bench dictated the following order. “We find no reason to entertain this petition under Article 32 (for enforcement of fundamental right) of the Constitution of India. The writ petition is dismissed accordingly. Pending applications stands disposed of.”