JU sorts out admission imbroglio, to hold tests for six humanities subjects soon

Kolkata: The impasse at Jadavpur University (JU) got resolved on Wednesday, with the varsity deciding to conduct the admission tests for six humanities subjects at the undergraduate level.

The university also announced that a certain percentage of marks in Higher Secondary or equivalent examination and a certain percentage of marks in the admission test will be taken into account, before preparing the final merit list for admission.

The university had temporarily postponed the admission tests on Monday, following which a section of Arts students had gheraoed the vice-chancellor and executive council (EC) members.

"We had sought legal opinion on the matter and the state Advocate General submitted a report on Tuesday night, on the basis of which the EC meeting was convened. We have decided unanimously that the admission tests for all the six subjects that were notified earlier, will be held. But there will be a change in the dates. The faculty council of the varsity will sit for a meeting on Thursday, following which the dates will be announced," JU pro V-C Pradip Ghosh said.

The dates, according to an EC member, will be deferred by only a few days. The admission tests of six subjects- English, Bengali, Political Science, History, Philosophy and Comparative Literature, were earlier scheduled to be held from July 3 to 5.

An EC member assured that the classes for undergraduate humanities students will begin as per schedule and there will be no delay in that respect.

"The final merit list for admission will be prepared on the basis of 50 percent of the total marks secured in HS or equivalent examination and 50 percent of the marks secured in admission tests for History, Political Science, Philosophy and Comparative Literature. For English, 50 percent of the candidate's marks in English in HS or equivalent examination and 50 percent of the marks secured in admission tests will be taken into account, while for Bengali, 50 percent of marks secured in both Bengali and English and 50 percent of the marks in admission tests will be tallied for admission," an EC member said. The EC has also decided that the Admission Committee of the university will monitor the admission process and there will be no role played by any department in the admission.

The members of Arts Faculty Students' Union (AFSU) called off their agitation, immediately after the EC decision was announced. The agitation had been continuing since 8 pm on Monday, after the university temporarily postponed the dates for admission tests, over difference of opinion among EC members.