HIGH COURT OF JAMMU & KASHMIR AND LADAKH AT JAMMU WP (C) No. 1344/2025 Jaideep Singh .....Applicant(s)/Petitioner(s) Through :- Mr. Rahul Raina Advocate. J&K Board of Professional Entrance Examination and another .....Respondent(s) Through :- Mr. Sunil Malhotra, GA Ms. Anshuja Tak, Advocate CORAM: HON’BLE MS. JUSTICE MOKSHA KHAJURIA KAZMI, JUDGE ORDER 30.05.2025 1 By this petition, the petitioner herein is seeking a direction upon Respondent No.2, to allow him to submit the Offline Form issued by respondent No. 2, vide notification No. SC/491-B.E/B.Tech Engg/11925-34, dated 15.03.2025, and further to accept the same and consider his candidature under the Sports Category. The petitioner also seeks a direction upon respondent No.2 to forward his candidature under the Sports Category to respondent No. 1 for his admission/participation in the counselling process for the Common Entrance test for the BE/B.Tech Course- 2025, to be conducted by respondent No. 1. 2 It is stated that respondent No. 1 issued a notification No. 018-BOPEE of 2025, dated 03.03.2025, for admission in B.E/B.Tech Engineering Courses 2025. The petitioner is eligible to apply under the Sports Category pursuant to the aforesaid notification, subject to verification of his sports certificates by the Deputy Director, Youth Services and Sports J&K. 3 The petitioner successfully qualified the said Entrance Examination, and his name figured at Sr. No. 156 in the Merit List issued by Sr. No. 101 2 respondent No. 1 vide Notification No. 040-BOPEE of 2025. It is stated that petitioner belongs to the Sports category and has participated in various State/National Level sporting event in Football, including the 65th, 66th and 67th National School Games. Apart from that, he has also participated in various Inter-School Sports and games Competitions. 4 The petitioner states that recently he was informed that, under the applicable admission rules, candidates belonging to the Sports Category are required to submit a separate Application form before the respondent No. 2 for verification and recommendation of their candidature. Respondent No.2 had already issued notification No. SC/491-B.E/B.Tech Engg/11925-34, dated 15.03.2025, requiring the eligible candidates to submit the Offline Form in the office of respondent No. 2 between 18.03.2025 and 01.04.2025 during office hours, up to 4:00 PM. 5 The petitioner is eligible and fulfils the conditions as mentioned in the notification, but, due to certain reasons, he could not submit his Offline Form within the stipulated time. He requested respondent No. 2 with a request to accept his form, but the same has been declined on the ground that the last date i.e., 01.04.2025, had already passed. 6 It is stated by the petitioner that he had no intention to misrepresent or bypass the process, and that the delay in submission of form was solely due to ignorance. 7 Learned counsel for the petitioner states that the instant petition can be disposed of with the direction to respondent No. 2 to allow the petitioner to submit Offline Form issued by respondent No. 2. 8 Ms Anshuja Tak, learned counsel appearing for respondent No.2, states that though the cut off date for submission of the Offline Form is over and 3 the process has been completed, but in the interest of justice, this Court may direct the petitioner to approach respondent No.2 along with Offline form in terms of Notification dated 15.03.2025, within the course of the day. Respondent No. 2 may consider the petitioner’s candidature under the Sports Category after due verification. However, the acceptance of the form after the cut-off date should not be treated as a precedent. 09 Be that as it may, the instant petition is disposed of with a direction to the petitioner to approach respondent No. 2, along with the Offline Form in terms of order dated SC/491-B.E/B.Tech Engg/11925-34, dated 15.03.2025, today on 30.05.2025 between 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Respondent No. 2 is directed to consider the candidature of the petitioner under Sports Category after due verification, and if found eligible, forward the same to respondent No.1 for his admission/participation in the counselling process for the Common Entrance Test for BE/B.Tech Course-2025, to be conducted by Respondent No. 1. Disposed of as such. 10 This order shall be supplied to learned counsel for the parties under the seal and signature of the Bench Secretary/Reader of this Court for information and compliance. (Moksha Khajuria Kazmi) Judge JAMMU 30.05.2025 Rahul