The Madras High Court criticised parental pressure pushing students toward medicine and engineering, calling it a “terrible rat race,” while allowing a CBSE student to take Class XII Mathematics additionally after failing NEET and opting to pursue engineering.
CHENNAI: The Madras High Court recently criticised the pressure some parents place on students to secure seats in medicine and engineering, observing that this obsession has transformed education into a “terrible rat race.”
Justice Bharatha Chakravarthy remarked that parents frequently push children into fierce competition for professional courses, prompting questionable academic choices such as last-minute subject switches.
The Court made this comment while permitting a CBSE student to sit for the Class XII Mathematics exam as an additional subject after she failed to qualify in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and sought to pursue engineering instead.
The Court said,
“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,”
The Court added,
“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, which ultimately was not to be in the present case and now, the child finds itself in the crossroads.”
Facts of the case
The petition was filed by a parent of a CBSE student in Tamil Nadu. The student initially opted for English, Biology, Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics in Class XI, and continued Mathematics throughout that year and for part of Class XII.
However, when submitting subject details to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Mathematics was replaced by Physical Education on advice that a “lighter” subject would allow better focus on NEET preparation. After failing to secure a medical seat, the student sought permission to take Mathematics as an additional subject to pursue engineering.
CBSE refused the request by order dated January 8, 2026, citing a bye-law that permits an additional subject only if it has been studied for two academic years beginning in Class XI.
Court’s Reasoning and Directions
Justice Chakravarthy observed that records placed before the Court indicated the student had indeed studied Mathematics in Class XI and for part of Class XII. Given these facts, the Court held that procedural technicalities should not prevent rectifying errors where the substance demonstrates the student genuinely studied the subject:
The Court observed,
“Ultimately, the law should lean in favour of correcting the procedures towards truth,”
Recognising that the earlier decision to substitute Mathematics had left the student “at the crossroads,” the Court directed the CBSE Regional Director in Chennai to verify whether the student had studied Mathematics during Class XI and for a portion of Class XII. The student and her father were ordered to appear at the CBSE office with supporting evidence such as school records, notebooks and evaluation materials.
If the Regional Director is satisfied that the student studied the subject for a considerable period, CBSE was instructed to allow her to take the supplementary Mathematics exam, declare results and issue the corresponding marks.
The petitioner was represented by Advocate A. Mohammad Ismail. The Union of India was represented by Advocate D. Bhaskar, and CBSE was represented by Advocate T. Sri Krishna Bhagavat.
Case Title: Shajimon v. Union of India
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