Parents Making Children Run A 'Terrible Rat Race', Education Seen Only As Path To Medical Or Engineering Seats: Madras High Court

Justice Bharatha Chakravarthy remarked that parents were making kids choose easier subjects, so that the child could focus on three subjects alone, making it easier to clear the NEET examination. The court added that in high schools, even the mother tongue was being sacrificed so that the child could focus on NEET preparation.

“Education = Learning throughout the world. But, in this part of the world, education = admission to medical seat or engineering seat. Parents make the children to run the terrible rat race. In the madness, all kinds of subject change, as the one done here by choosing subjects which they think lighter all happen. In high school, even mother tongue is sacrificed to take other easier subjects. These are all practiced by the parents thinking that if the child studies three subjects alone, she will come out with flying colours in the NEET examination,” the court said.

The court was hearing the plea of a father against the order of the Regional Director, CBSE, to permit his daughter to write the Maths exam as an additional subject in the Senior School Certificate Examination 2025-26 as a private candidate.

The petitioner's case was that his daughter was admitted into class XI in a CBSE school and was studying English, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. The student continued to study maths in class XI and for some time in class XII. However, considering that the student was going to write the NEET exam and take up medicine, she was made to select Physical Education while submitting details to the CBSE.

Since the student was not successful in NEET, and considering that she would get admission in Engineering if she took maths, an application was submitted to permit her to study maths as an additional subject. Since this was rejected, the present plea was filed. The petitioner argued that Rule 43 of the scheme permitted the student to study an additional subject and thus prayed that the student be allowed to study maths as an additional subject.

On the other hand, CBSE argued that the bye-law would not be applicable in the present case. It was argued that the student had studied physical education in XI and XII, and unless the student studies maths as a subject in XI, the benefits of the bye law would not apply.

The court noted that normally, CBSE students had to study 5 subjects mandatorily, including English as one of the languages. As per Bye Law 43, the students could study one additional subject as the sixth subject, and facilities have been provided to appear as private candidates.

In the present case, the court noted that the student had studied maths in Class XI and only because of external pressure, she had changed the subject last minute. The court noted that the CBSE was given incorrect information.

Thus, noting that it was an extraordinary situation, the court directed the authorities to permit her to take up supplementary examination for maths exam. The court directed the father to appear before the Regional Director along with his daughter and produce proof that the student was studying maths in class XI.

The court added that once the Regional Director was satisfied that the student had studied Maths in Class XI, she must be permitted to write the supplementary exam.

Counsel for Petitioner: Mr. A. Mohamed Ismail

Counsel for Respondent: Mr. D. Baskar, Central Government Standing Counsel, Mr. T. Sri Krishna Bhagavat

Case Title: B Shajimon v. Union of India and Others

Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Mad) 105

Case No: W.P.No.3376 of 2026