Parents in India push children into “terrible rat race” for medical, engineering seats: Madras High Court

The Madras High Court recently criticised the pressure placed on students by some parents to secure admission into medical and engineering courses, remarking that such obsession has turned education into a “terrible rat race.” [Shajimon Vs Union of India]

Justice Bharatha Chakravarthy noted that parents often push children into intense competition for professional courses, leading to questionable academic decisions such as last-minute subject changes.

The Court made the observation while allowing a CBSE student to appear for the Class XII Mathematics examination as an additional subject, after she failed to clear the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and sought to pursue engineering instead.

"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 said.

The Court further observed,

"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."

The Court was dealing with a petition filed by a parent whose child was studying under the CBSE curriculum at a school in Tamil Nadu.

According to the petition, the student had initially opted for English, Biology, Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics in Class XI. The child also studied Mathematics throughout that academic year and for a part of Class XII.

However, while submitting subject details to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Mathematics was replaced with Physical Education, allegedly based on advice that selecting such a lighter subject would help the student concentrate better on preparing for the NEET examination (medical entrance exam).

After she failed to secure a medical seat through NEET, the student sought permission to write the Mathematics examination as an additional subject so that she could pursue engineering instead.

Her request was rejected by CBSE through an order dated January 8, 2026, on the ground that its bye-laws permit an additional subject only if it has been studied for two academic years beginning from Class XI.

Justice Chakravarthy noted that records produced before the Court showed that the student had in fact studied Mathematics during Class XI and for some time in Class XII.

In such circumstances, the Court held that procedural technicalities should not stand in the way of correcting mistakes where the underlying facts show that the student had genuinely studied the subject.

“Ultimately, the law should lean in favour of correcting the procedures towards truth,” the Court observed.

The Court also noted that the student had been left “at the crossroads” after failing NEET due to the earlier decision to replace Mathematics with Physical Education.

Taking into account the “peculiar facts” of the case, the Court directed the CBSE Regional Director in Chennai to verify whether the student had indeed studied Mathematics during Class XI and for a part of Class XII.

The student and her father were directed to appear before the CBSE office with supporting materials such as school records, notebooks and evaluation documents.

If satisfied that the student had studied the subject for a considerable period, the CBSE was directed to permit her to appear for the supplementary Mathematics examination, declare her 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.

The CBSE was represented by Advocate T Sri Krishna Bhagavat

[Read Judgment]