HC directs PMC to consider offline examination for students

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Jan 1: High Court has directed the J&K Para Medical Council to consider the representation of students with regard to holding the examination of Para Medical first year and GNM second year via off line.
253 students approached the court by way of a writ petition challenging therein the notification and Date Sheet issued by Controller Examinations J&K Para Medical Council Jammu on December 19 last year for conducting the offline examinations of first year and second year of Para Medical and GNM respectively.
These students submit before the court that the same is in violation of guidelines and circular issued by the Nursing Council of India as such seek direction from the court to direct the authorities to consider the issue and take decision on the representation already submitted before the authorities in this regard.
Justice Sanjeev Kumar while hearing the plea of these students through their counsel Sajad Geelani issued notice to Commissioner Secretary H&ME department, Chairman J&K Para Medical Council Jammu, Controller Examinations J&K Para Medical Council Jammu, Principals ATM School of Nursing Srinagar, Pulwama, Shopian, Baramulla for filing of their response to the plea of these students.
The notice however, has been waived by the counsel appearing for Health Department advocate Shah Amir (AAG) and sought two weeks to file the objections to the contentions raised by the students in writ petition against the conducting of offline examination. “In the meanwhile, the Chairman, Para Medical Council and Controller Examinations shall consider and take decision on the representation of the petitioners, if any, before them”, Justice Kumar directed.
They seek that the authorities be directed to reschedule and conduct the said examination by online mode and reduction in syllabus or else promote the students on the basis of internal assessment as followed by the institutions of the country in view of circular issued by the Nursing Council of India on July 2020.