Z score issue: leave to proceed granted

Jayantha de Silva

A three judge Bench of the Supreme Court yesterday granted leave to proceed with the Z score issue pertaining to the admission of students to universities.

The Bench fixed September 3 for further hearings.

The Bench comprised Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake, Justice K Sri Pavan and Justice Nimal Gamini Amaratunge. In granting leave to proceed with several applications filed by students who sat for the GCE (AL) 2011 under both the old and new syllabus, the Bench observed that the University Grants Commission (UGC) gave an undertaking that admissions to universities would not be finalised until the issue is determined by Supreme Court.

Chief Justice Bandaranayake observed that any future relief will satisfy the students.

Attorney at law M Sumanthiran appearing for a petitioner who sat for last year's GCE (AL) exam submitted the student had obtained three A passes but was not eligible to gain admission to a university. This is no fault on the part of the student, he said, but due to the fault of the methodology of admission to the university.

The UGC has undertaken to rectify the Z score issue. Senior State Council Neril Pulle appeared for the Attorney General. Attorney at law Faiz Musthafa, PC also appeared for the petitioners.