Kalady: The Kerala High Court has directed the Kalady-based Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit to put on hold the admission process for the Malayalam Ph.D programme. The final ranklist is to be prepared as per the revised University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines that stipulate the consideration of 70% of marks scored in the entrance test and 30% in the interview.

The petitioners had alleged that the interview board prepared the list solely on the basis of the interview while excluding the weightage for written examination, thereby violating the UGC regulation. The petitioners claimed the same resulted in those who secured top ranks in the entrance test not getting selected.

Justice Devan Ramachandran passed the interim order on a petition filed by Theertha Mohan of Kallur, Thrissur, and Leby Vijayan, a native of Thykoodam, Ernakulam. The petitioners made the University Vice Chancellor, UGC, and the selected candidates the opposite parties.

Theertha and Leby obtained 2nd and 8th ranks in the entrance test. However, they got fewer marks in the interview and were awarded the 15th and 17th ranks, respectively. Hence, their names were not included in the final rank list, the petitioners charged.

The court scheduled the next hearing in the case on January 23.