- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:25662 WP NO.13578 OF 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 14TH DAY OF JULY, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE E.S. INDIRESH WRIT PETITION NO.13578 OF 2025 (EDN-RES) BETWEEN: MS. ENAGANTI SAI SRINIVASA LAKSHMI AISHWARYA D/O SRI. E RANGAIAH NAIDU, AGED ABOUT 19 YEARS, R/AT H NO.11, 2ND FLOOR, 4TH MAIN, BANK OF BARODA COLONY, J.P. NAGAR 7TH PHASE, BENGALURU - 560 075. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. SHAILAJA, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE UNION OF INDIA THROUGH ITS SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, DEPARTMENT OF PROMOTION OF INDUSTRY AND INTERNAL TRADE (DPIIT) GOVERNMENT OF INDIA, NEW DELHI - 110 011. 2. THE DEPARTMENT FOR PROMOTION OF INDUSTRY AND INTERNAL TRADE (DPIIT) MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA, UDYOG BHAWAN, NEW DELHI - 110 011. 3. THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF DESIGN AHMEDABAD CAMPUS THROUGH ITS DIRECTOR, Digitally signed by SHARMA ANAND CHAYA Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:25662 WP NO.13578 OF 2025 OPPOSITE TAGORE HALL, RAJNAGAR SOCIETY, PALDI, AHMEDABAD, GUJARAT - 380 007. 4. THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF DESIGN BENGALURU CAMPUS THROUGH ITS DIRETOR, BLOCK-B, NO.12, HMT LINK ROAD, OFF. TUMKUR ROAD, PLATINUM CITY, INDUSTRIAL AREA, STAGE I, YESHWANTHPUR, BENGALURU - 560 022. 5. THE REGISTRAR (ADMISSIONS) NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF DESIGN (NID) BLOCK-B, NO.12, HMT LINK ROAD, OFF TUMKUR ROAD, PLATINUM CITY, INDUSTRIAL AREA, STAGE I, YESHWANTHPUR, BENGALURU - 560 022. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. RESHMA K.T., ADVOCATE FOR R1 TO R3; RESPONDENTS 4 AND 5 - SERVED) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO DIRECT THE RESPONDENTS TO CONSIDER THE PETITIONER'S CANDIDATURE UNDER THE OBC-NCL CATEGORY BASED ON THE CORRECTED CERTIFICATE SUBMITTED AND PERMIT HER TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ONGOING ADMISSION PROCESS FOR BACHELOR OF DESIGN (B.DES) AT NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF DESIGN (NID) AS PER PETITIONER'S MAIL VIDE ANNEXURE-H; AND ETC. THIS PETITION COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE E.S.INDIRESH - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:25662 WP NO.13578 OF 2025 ORAL ORDER In this writ petition, the petitioner has sought for direction to the respondents to consider the candidature of the petitioner under OBC-NCL category based on the corrected certificate submitted by her and permit her to participate in the admission process for Bachelor of Design (B.Des) at National Institute of Design (for short, hereinafter referred to as 'NID') as per the mail made by the petitioner produced at Annexure- H. 2. This Court, by order dated 02nd May, 2025, directed the respondents to permit the petitioner for Design Aptitude Test Mains Examination scheduled on 03rd May, 2025. 3. The brief facts for adjudication of this writ petition are that the petitioner had made an application for admission of the Bachelor of Design (B.Des) under the Other Backward Classes category (OBC). As averred in the petition, in the State of Karnataka, the Other Backward Classes certificate will be issued by the Government and same is produced at Annexure- A. It is also stated in the petition that, e-Mail communication dated 02nd December, 2024 (Annexure-C) and Admit Card - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:25662 WP NO.13578 OF 2025 produced at Annexure-D has been issued to the petitioner for appearing in Design Aptitude Prelims Exam scheduled on 05th January, 2025. The petitioner had appeared for the Design Aptitude Prelims Exam for Bachelor of Design scheduled on 05th January, 2025. Thereafter, the results were announced in respect of the examination that was held on 05th January, 2025 and the petitioner was assigned with an All India Rank of 681 under the General category, having secured 42 out of 100 marks in Design Aptitude Test. The case of the petitioner was considered in General category, though claimed under Other Backward Classes category by informing that, on verification of the caste certificate uploaded by the petitioner, same is found to be incorrect/invalid. Being aggrieved by the same, the petitioner presented this writ petition seeking interference of this Court. 4. Heard Smt. Shailaja, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner; Smt. Reshma K.T., learned counsel appearing for respondents 1 to 3. 5. Smt. Shailaja, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submits that, as per Annexure-F, the petitioner had - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:25662 WP NO.13578 OF 2025 secured 42 out of 100 marks in Design Aptitude Test (prelims) as per the shortlist of candidates made by the respondent-NID and there was no opportunity for the petitioner to make application for revaluation of marks. Accordingly, she sought for interference of this Court. 6. Per contra, Smt. Reshma K.T., learned counsel appearing for respondents 1 to 3 invited the attention of the Court to the calendar of events as per the Brochure produced at Annexure-R1 and submitted that the date of DAT Prelims Exam is 05th January, 2025 and the date of DAT Prelims result was 01st April, 2025. Learned counsel appearing for respondents 1 to 3 further submitted that the last date of making application for revaluation is over by efflux of time and therefore, the petitioner is not entitled for relief sought for in the petition. 7. Learned counsel appearing for respondents 1 to 3, by referring to clause 5.3 of the Brochure produced at Annexure-R1 submitted that, even insofar as the score made by the petitioner is concerned, the petitioner cannot be considered under Other Backward Classes category nor under - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:25662 WP NO.13578 OF 2025 General category. Accordingly, she sought for dismissal of the writ petition. 8. Having taken note of the submission made by learned counsel appearing for the parties, on 08th July, 2025, this Court directed the respondent-NID to disclose the marks obtained by the petitioner in the qualifying examination for Bachelor of Design (B.Des) and also the relevant documents relating to cut-off marks in a sealed cover. In compliance of the same, learned counsel appearing for respondents 1 to 3 provided information in the sealed cover. On perusal of the information produced in the sealed cover, the same would indicate that the petitioner had secured less than the marks secured by the last candidate short-listed under the Other Backward Classes category as well as General category. In that view of the matter, it is clear that, there is a much gap between the marks secured by the petitioner and the marks secured by the last candidate short-listed as per the information provided by respondents 1 to 3 in the sealed cover. Therefore, I am of the view that no interference be called for in this writ petition. - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:25662 WP NO.13578 OF 2025 9. It is also made clear that, though the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that the opportunity has not been given to the petitioner to make an application for revaluation, however, as per calendar of events specified in the Brochure produced at Annexure-R1, the date of DAT Prelims result was 01st April, 2025. In that view of the matter, this Court, cannot interfere with the Academic calendar of the respondent-NID. Therefore, the relief sought for by the petitioner cannot be accepted. Accordingly, writ petition is dismissed as devoid of merits. SD/- (E.S. INDIRESH) JUDGE ARK List No.: 1 Sl No.: 23