Archive · 28 Aug 2026
JUTA Opposes WBJEE Decentralised Counselling Over Fairness Concerns
The WBJEE board decided to use a decentralised process to fill some engineering seats.
JUTA, a teachers’ association at Jadavpur University, disagrees with this decision.
It says students with better entrance-exam ranks may lose the chance to move to their preferred departments.
This could affect students who have already accepted seats at colleges or universities.
JUTA says some empty seats could instead go to lower-ranked students who have not been admitted elsewhere.
The association also questioned allowing Class 12 marks to be used for engineering admissions.
It said WBJEE and JEE-Main scores may be difficult to compare fairly.
JUTA wants the notification reviewed and withdrawn.
It also wants every student to be allowed to take part in counselling.
JUTA opposed the WBJEE board’s decision to conduct decentralised counselling for engineering admissions.
The teachers’ body said already-admitted, higher-ranked students could lose chances to upgrade to preferred departments.
It objected to vacant seats being offered to lower-ranked candidates who had not secured admission elsewhere.
JUTA questioned admissions based on Class 12 marks and the comparability of WBJEE and JEE-Main scores.
The association sought immediate withdrawal of the notification and participation rights for all students.
- Who
- The Jadavpur University Teachers’ Association, represented in the statement by general secretary Partha Pratim Roy, opposed the decision.
- What
- JUTA objected to decentralised engineering counselling and related provisions on seat upgrades, Class 12 marks, and common ranking.
- When
- The reports were published on Friday, August 28; the year was not specified.
- Where
- Kolkata, West Bengal, with concerns including admissions to Jadavpur University.
- Why
- JUTA said the process could disadvantage higher-ranked students, weaken merit-based admissions, and create fairness concerns.
JUTA’s objections
Announced WBJEE policy
Seat upgrades
JUTA’s objections
JUTA said higher-ranked students who had already secured admission should retain the opportunity to upgrade to preferred departments.
Announced WBJEE policy
The reported decentralised process would make certain vacant seats available to lower-ranked candidates who had not secured admission elsewhere, while already-admitted students would no longer be eligible for upgrades.
Use of Class 12 marks
JUTA’s objections
JUTA argued that admitting students on the basis of Class 12 marks could dilute the prescribed entrance-exam eligibility and merit criteria.
Announced WBJEE policy
The WBJEE board’s notification included provisions allowing engineering admissions based on Class 12 board examination marks.
Common merit list
JUTA’s objections
JUTA questioned how WBJEE and JEE-Main scores could be fairly compared, citing differences in examination levels and evaluation processes. It preferred priority for JEE-Main results, followed by WBJEE results.
Announced WBJEE policy
The reported policy contemplated a common merit list involving WBJEE and JEE-Main scores; the articles did not provide the board’s explanation for how parity would be established.
- Organisation
- Jadavpur University Teachers’ Association (JUTA)
- Contested policy
- The West Bengal Joint Entrance Examinations Board’s decentralised counselling process
- Main concern
- Already-admitted, higher-ranked students could lose opportunities to upgrade to preferred departments
- Disputed admission basis
- Class 12 board examination marks
- Examinations discussed
- West Bengal Joint Entrance Examination (WBJEE) and Joint Entrance Examination-Main (JEE-Main)
- JUTA’s demand
- Immediate review and withdrawal of the notification, with every student allowed to participate
- Government response
- Higher Education Minister Jannath Chattopadhyay could not be contacted for comment
