BENGALURU: The High Court of Karnataka on Thursday directed the Executive Director of the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) to file an affidavit by October 31 explaining the procedure followed for seat allotment in the third round of counselling for medical and dental courses.
A Division Bench comprising Justice Jayant Banerji and Justice K.V. Aravind issued the interim order while hearing petitions filed by Chandana M. Chavan and several other students who alleged irregularities in the seat allotment process.
Students allege bias in third round
The petitioners contended that less meritorious students, based on their NEET ranks, were allotted seats in the provisional list published on October 24, due to the undisclosed procedure adopted by the KEA for the third round.
They claimed that the criteria and method of allotment were not mentioned in the Admission Information Bulletin 2025, thereby violating transparency norms and prejudicing more deserving candidates.
“The KEA cannot adopt a new or modified seat allotment process without prior notice to students or proper disclosure,” the petitioners argued.
KEA defends seat allotment process
Appearing for the KEA, advocate N.K. Ramesh defended the authority’s actions, stating that the procedure followed this year was similar to last year’s process. He maintained that the method of allotment had been duly notified to candidates from time to time, as in previous admission cycles.
He further added that the KEA had complied with all guidelines laid down by the National Medical Commission (NMC) and Medical Counselling Committee (MCC).
Court extends interim order
After hearing both sides, the Bench ordered that the KEA must submit an affidavit detailing the modus operandi of seat allotment, including the criteria applied for ranking and allocation of seats in the third round.
The court also extended its earlier interim order, restraining the KEA from finalising the provisional allotment list until further directions.
The matter has been adjourned till October 31, when the KEA’s affidavit will be reviewed by the court.
Background
The third round of medical and dental seat counselling in Karnataka has been mired in controversy, with several students raising concerns about inconsistencies in the allotment list. Many have alleged that students with lower NEET scores secured government and private medical seats over higher-ranking candidates.
The KEA, however, maintains that all seat allotments were made in accordance with rules, and any variations are due to category-wise and preference-based reshuffling inherent in multiple rounds of counselling.
What next
The High Court’s direction for an affidavit is expected to bring clarity to the seat allotment mechanism and ensure greater transparency in the process. The KEA’s explanation will play a key role in determining whether the third-round allotment list can proceed or needs rectification.