Poor response from students due to slow internet
*HC notice to GAD, BOPEE on residence proof issue
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, May 9: Uncertainty is looming large over the conduct of Common Entrance Test for Bachelor of Engineering and Technology Courses-2020 because of the situation created by the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). Moreover, there is poor response from the students to the notification issued by the Board of Professional Entrance Examination (BOPEE) because of slow internet and lack of clarity on submission of valid residence proof certificate.
Vide Notification No.003 dated March 10, 2020 the Board of Professional Entrance Examination had invited online applications from the students of the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh for participation in the Common Entrance Test for admission to Bachelor of Engineering and Technology Courses for the Academic Session-2020.
The last date for filing the online application forms was March 31, 2020 and Entrance Test was scheduled to be held on April 26, 2020. However, due to the lockdown imposed on the instructions of the Ministry of Home Affairs to check spread of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) the Board of Professional Entrance Examination had to postpone the Entrance Test till further orders.
However, it was decided to keep on receiving online applications from the candidates and for this purpose the last date had to be extended twice and presently the same is up to May 31, 2020.
“But uncertainty is prevailing over the conduct of Common Entrance Test in view of the situation prevailing due to COVID-19”, official sources told EXCELSIOR, adding “none of the officers in the Board of Professional Entrance Examination is in a position to specify any date for holding Common Entrance Test”.
They further said, “holding of CET depends on the improvement in the prevailing situation as well as lifting of restrictions particularly on mass gathering by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and Government of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir”, adding “the BOPEE has decided to complete the process of receiving online applications and then adopt wait and watch policy”.
“In case the BOPEE fails to conduct the Common Entrance Test because of the prevailing situation around 2550 seats in the Engineering Colleges of J&K and Ladakh will remain unfulfilled this year”, sources informed.
Moreover, there is poor response from the candidates this year and the same can be attributed to the slow internet (2G).
“The BOPEE has received numerous calls from the candidates desirous to participate in the CET that they are finding it difficult to upload the documents because of the poor internet speed”, sources said, adding “because of the lockdown and restrictions on movement even the option of visiting the cyber cafe for filing the online application form and uploading the documents cannot be exercised by the students”.
Moreover, the lack of clarity on the submission of valid residence proof is also creating problems for the candidates.
Vide Notification dated March 10, 2020 the BOPEE had sought valid residence proof certificate of J&K and Ladakh from the applicants without describing the same. However, following issuance of J&K Reorganization (Adaptation of State Laws) Order, 2020 dated March 31 by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, the BOPEE was supposed to issue a corrigendum mentioning the documents other than Permanent Resident Certificate which would be entertained but this was not done.
This has also led to filing of a petition in the High Court by an aggrieved candidate, who submitted that the respondents were demanding Permanent Resident Certificate (PRC), so as to enable the petitioner to participate in the CET-2020. He further submitted that with the abrogation of Article 35(A), the concept of PRC has lost its relevance and as such the same cannot be demanded by the respondents.
After hearing counsel for the petitioner, Justice Rajnesh Oswal today observed, “the court is of the opinion that the important point of law is involved, which requires the response from the General Administration Department as such Secretary of the department is arrayed as party respondent”.
The High Court also issued notice to the Secretary of General Administration Department for filing objections by or before the next date of hearing-May 18, 2020.
However, officials of the BOPEE claimed that Board was also entertaining Passport, Ration Card and Driving License of the candidates as valid proof of residence.
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