Fate of students hang in balance as Jadavpur postpones admission process temporarily

Kolkata: Jadavpur University has decided to temporarily postpone its admission process, by withdrawing the dates for admission tests that were scheduled to be held from July 3 to 5. A senior varsity official said that the dates will be announced later.

Rarely in the history of the varsity has the admission tests been postponed after announcement.

"We have decided to bring down the cut-off marks in History from 80 percent to 70 percent. The last date for submission of application forms for admission in all Arts streams have been extended to July 2. The last date was earlier fixed at June 26," said JU pro vice-chancellor Pradip Ghosh.

The varsity had decided to hold admission tests in six subjects, including History, English, Comparative Literature, Philosophy etc. and had notified the dates of the admission tests on its website. The dates were notified even after a section of teachers at the working committee meeting of the varsity were against holding admission tests in certain subjects. A meeting of the working committee was held on Monday, but differences of opinion existed.

Registrar of JU Chiranjib Bhattacharjee said that the university will seek legal opinion and announce its next course of action. A university source said that there have already been 17,000 applications for admission in Arts streams.

An official in the state Higher Education department expressed his apprehension that the present situation will inconvenience the students. "The decision in this regard must be taken by the university. But we have instructed them to ensure that admission is not held strictly on the basis of merit," the official added.

It may be mentioned that state Education minister Partha Chatterjee, in the wake of some vacant seats in the varsity last year, had told the varsity authorities to follow a uniform admission pattern for all the Arts subjects.