The Punjab and Haryana high court on Wednesday directed the district education officer (DEO secondary), Bathinda, to produce CCTV footage installed at the school gate on allegations that a Class-12 student, who reached late by three minutes, was not allowed to enter the examination hall.
The student, Deepanshu Bansal of Mansa, told the court that he had to appear for the English exam conducted by the Central Board of School Education (CBSE) on March 2 at St Xavier’s Senior Secondary School, Phase-3, Modal Town, Bathinda. The court was told that he was not allowed to enter by the principal-cum-centre superintendent of the school, resulting in loss of his academic year, as he was to seek admission to the MBBS course on the basis of NEET.
“Even if he appears in compartment examination this year for passing the English paper, he would be late as counselling will be over by then,” the court was told.
The court also sought response from the CBSE by March 25.
The court was told that two more students were also stopped from appearing in the paper on that day, and when the parents approached the Bathinda DC, he deputed DEO (secondary) to resolve the matter. When the matter was not resolved, the DC appointed tehsildar as duty magistrate, but the centre superintendent did not open the gate for him too. Duty magistrate then called local police and got the gate of examination hall opened, the court was told, adding that by the time, the exam was over.
{{/usCountry}}The court was told that two more students were also stopped from appearing in the paper on that day, and when the parents approached the Bathinda DC, he deputed DEO (secondary) to resolve the matter. When the matter was not resolved, the DC appointed tehsildar as duty magistrate, but the centre superintendent did not open the gate for him too. Duty magistrate then called local police and got the gate of examination hall opened, the court was told, adding that by the time, the exam was over.
{{/usCountry}}The court was urged to direct the CBSE to conduct special paper of English for the petitioner, or to pay to him a compensation of ₹10 lakh.