Mumbai, June 23 (IANS) The Bombay High Court Wednesday rejected the 'best five' formula espoused by the Maharashtra government for admission to Class 11, saying it violates the right to equality as it applies to students belonging to only one board.

The court also said the online admission process for Class 11 - first year junior college - can start immediately.

A division bench of Justices J.N. Patel and S.C. Dharmadhikari said the 'best five' formula for Secondary School Certificate (SSC) Board students discriminated against students from other boards.

The court earlier questioned the government resolution following several public interest litigations filed by aggrieved parents of children who passed out from the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) board, asking why the same facility is not available to students of other boards.

The resolution said marks obtained in any five of the six subjects in Class 10 exams by an SSC student would be taken into account for admission to Class 11. An SSC pass-out, therefore, will be able to choose five subjects in which he/she has excelled.

The Maharashtra government came up with the 'best five' formula in February.