In the past the Board of School Education has been coming under scanner for various lapses and irregularities. But here we are to deal with the high-handedness of the JK Board of Professional Entrance Examination (BOPEE) that has come to our notice. BOPEE is very important and highly sensitive organization that has to deal with a vital matter. The job of this organization is to conduct entrance test of candidates for admission to professional institution like engineering, medical, technical, Ayurvedic and the rest of them. The norms for entry into these tests and conditions for qualifying are all set forth in the plan of work. Students know the procedure and the conditions that govern admission to these institutions and courses. Each institute has a specific number of seats allotted to it by the competent authority. The test is expected to be fair and just so that no deserving candidate loses the chance of qualifying.
However, at one point of time, the case of fixing the dates for entry tests was brought before the Supreme Court in a civil appeal titled Parshavanath Charitable Trust Versus All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE). The petitioner had alleged that the Board was violating the instructions ordered by the court as the Board was not adhering to the dates that had been stipulated by the Supreme Court for admission to various professional courses. Moreover, the allegation is that it is creating impediments in extension of benefits given to the private colleges by the State Government vide SRO-51 of 1997. Actually, the Supreme Court, on December 13, 2012 had approved the schedule for the dates of entrance tests to be strictly followed by the All India Council of Technical Education and Boards of Professional Entrance Examination of all the States. The Supreme Court declared it law which would be strictly adhered to by all the concerned and none of the authorities shall have the power or jurisdiction to vary these dates of admission.
It is surprising that despite these clear orders from the Supreme Court, the BOPEE is flouting these orders and thus jeopardizing the interests of the students. The Court has laid stress on fair, transparent and judicious method of grant of admission and commencement of courses and any variation is bound to adversely affect the maintenance of higher standards of education and systemic and proper completion of courses. But by flouting the instructions of the court the BOPEE is doing exactly the opposite of the expectations of the Supreme Court. The entrance examination (AIEEE/State CET/Mgmt Quota exams etc) shall be conducted in the month of May and first round of counseling/admission for allotment of seats is required to be completed on or before June 30. Similarly, the second round of counseling for allotment of seats is required to be completed on or before July 10 and last round of counseling for allotment of seats shall be completed on or before July 20. According to the orders of the Supreme Court July 30 is the last date for admitting candidates and August 1 is the last date for commencement of academic session.
By not adhering to the directions of the Supreme Court, which is very conspicuous in the case of BOPEE of J&K State, we learn that during last three years 400 seats in Engineering were left unfilled in private professional colleges. The Board does not seem to be happy with facilitating the recognized private professional colleges in seeing to it that the respective quota is filled by deserving candidates.
We believe that this irregularity should be immediately plugged. The Board or for that matter any institution should not have the audacity of violating the orders of the Apex Court, the highest court of justice in the country. Moreover why should the J&K BOPEE think of circumventing the orders of the Supreme Court when no other State in the country has any objections and they have adopted the calendar of examinations and entry recommended by the court? There is no need for the BOPEE to be singled out for something unusual and unjust at the same time.
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