Calcutta University Authority refuses to defer examination dates, Students on Dharna

Despite repeated requests by students to defer the dates of 3rd Year's final examinations for all Undergraduate Courses, Calcutta University authority has decided not to change the dates of any examinations.

The University has scheduled the dates of examination to commence from April 2nd, 2016 with all honours subjects in the first slots of scheduled dates.But the assembly elections in West Bengal are also scheduled to begin from April 4th, 2016 and many examination centres has already been acquired by the Election Commission for the purpose of election controlling, Force posting etc.

The students have already asked the University authority a several time to reschedule the dates as many examination centres or parts of the centres have already been acquired as polling centres as well and there are immense chances of any serious troubles during the elections.

Even many centres have been marked by the Election Commission as high alert zones as chaotic conditions are seen in them before and so, many students are already been frightened by the fact that they may not be able to give their final examinations properly. But after getting repeated request made by the students to either change their centres or to change the schedule of the examinations the University authority haven't given any positive response to them. Students have now started their Dharna against the University authority demanding the change of schedule of examinations.

The dharna started at College Square ground near Calcutta University's College Street Campus on March 13th, 2016.They organised a road march on March 14th, 2016 and tried to enter the campus to meet the Vice Chancellor to have a conversation regarding this issue.

But they were stopped and were not allowed to enter the campus by Kolkata Police authority. One of the Students' representative Ranjan Mahato said that they are constantly trying to work it out with the University authority "The University is so willing to take the examination during the assembly elections then the authority must arrange sufficient security measures for each and every student which they are unable to provide. The students have made it clear to the authority that they will not be able to take the examination at this much boiling situation." he said.

He also added that they have made their mind go to High Court and file a case against the University authority to seek legal actions against this examination scheduling while the dates for the assembly elections have had been announced by the Election Commission much earlier. He also said that this students' agitation will go on untill and unless they get any proper and positive response from the authority.

Source: Soutrik Das. City Journalist - Kolkata, CollegeDekho