Joint Entrance examinations deferred by a month

Kolkata, Mar 06 (UNI) West Begal Joint Entrance examinations for admission into All India Engineering and Medical Courses have been postponed by about a month from April 22 and 23 to May 20 and 21 in view of the coming Assembly elections in the state.

Announcing the change of dates of the two-day All India examinations after an emergency meeting of the Joint Entrance Board, its Chairman and Vice-Chancellor of Bengal Engineering College, Shibpur, Dr Nikhil Ranjan Banerjee told newsmen here today that the 33-member Board had "unanimously decided to defer the examinations in 204 centres across the country keeping in mind the possible inconvenience of students" because of the elections.

Incidentally, the first phase of the five-phase elections in West Bengal is scheduled on April 22.

" Before postponing the examinations I on behalf of the Board tried to talk to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) B B Tandon in New Delhi to discuss the issue, but neither was he nor Election Commissioner Anant Kumar available till 1530 hours today forcing the Board to fix the new dates after duly considering schedules of similar all other all India entrance tests, " Dr Banerjee said.

He said this year more than 98,000 students were appearing for the JE examinations from all over the country, adding last year a total number of 60,360 students had appeared for similar tests for both streams.

Further elaborating he said under the new schedule mathematics and physics examinations would be held on May 20, while chemistry and biology tests would be held the next day between 1100 hours and 1600 hours.

Stating that in the long history of Joint Entrance examinations this was for the second time that the examinations were being postponed becauase of elections or any other issue. Last time it happened about nine years ago and that too because of election dates, the Vice- Chancellor recalled.

About the increased number of examination centres, Dr Banerjee said compared to 157 last year, a total number of 204 centres had been set up this year following increased number of students. Of these while the maximum 182 centres had been set up in West Bengal, followed by 13 in New Delhi, three each in Mumbai and Guwahati, two in Agartala and one in Chennai.

About the issue relating to admit cards for all the 98,000 odd students, Dr Banerjee said though all arrangements were completed to send admit cards for the April 22 and 23 examinations, under the new situations the entire process would have to be undertaken once again.

" But we hope to send the new admit cards to every student at least a month before the examination dates, " the Vice-Chancellor assured the students.

On whether the declaration of results could also be deferred under the present situastion, both Dr Banerjee and Controller of JE examinations and state Health Director Jayatri Mitra, who was also present, replied in the negative.

" Despite the delay the results would definitely be out by June 15, " they reiterated and said it would be possible because the tests would be held under the new MCQ method.

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