- (1.) Since this petition and Schedule A petitions involve common questions of law and facts, therefore, they are being disposed of by this common order.
(2.) In these batch of petitions, the petitioners have challenged the action of the respondent Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati University, Ajmer (hereinafter referred to as 'the University') authorised representative of the State Govt., issuing a corrigendum dated 23-5-97 to the advertisement of the notification inviting applications for entrance examination to Pre-Education Test, 1997.
(3.) The University has been authorised and interested by Education (Gr. I) Department, Govt. of Rajasthan vide its letter No. 12(2) Shiksha-1/95 Part, dated 5-3-97 to conduct the test for B.Ed. and Shiksha Shastri for 1997-98 which are being conducted by the University from many a years. For admission to B.Ed./Shiksha Shastri Courses in various Teachers Training Institutions in the State of Rajasthan, a competitive test for selection of candidates viz., Pre-Teacher Education Test (P.T.E.T.) was arranged by the University for the Session 1997-98 and a notification to that effect was issued on 15-4-97. The minimum eligibility criteria for entrance examination under the notification was that the candidate must have minimum of 40% marks at the Bachelor's or the Master's degree examination of the Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati University, Ajmer or of any other University recognised as equivalent to the University. The last date for submission of the form was fixed as 1-5-97. Before the examination was conducted, which was held on 15-6-97 a corrigendum was issued by the University on 23-5-97. The corrigendum contains that for P.T.E.T. of 1997, for admission to the courses of B.Ed. and Shiksha Shastri, the minimum marks, to be qualified to appear in the examination, was fixed at 45% marks at Bachelor's or Master's Degree examination of Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati University, Ajmer or of any other University recognised as equivalent to the University. This is so done to bring it with parity of the regulations, instructions issued under the National Council for Teacher Education Act, 1993 (hereinafter referred to as 'the Act') as per the directions of the State Govt. By the corrigendum, the application forms of the candidates securing less than 45% marks had been cancelled and they were advised not to appear in the examination even if the admission forms are issued to them. It is this corrigendum, which is under challenge in these petitions.;