Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, June 11: Unbelievable it may sound but it is a fact that it took more than 12 years to the State Government to frame Rules for the Board of Professional Entrance Examination, which was set up primarily for conducting entrance examinations for admissions to various professional courses in fair and transparent manner. The Government remained in deep slumber over this vital issue during such a long period despite the fact that Rules are guiding force for smooth functioning of any body and achieving the objective behind its constitution.
This important body came into being in the year 2002 following enactment of Jammu and Kashmir Board of Professional Entrance Examination Act with the objective of conducting entrance tests and making selection for admission to the professional courses in the most transparent and fair manner. The Act received the nod of the Governor on April 21, 2002 and published in the Government Gazette on April 23, 2002.
Under Section 23 of the Act, the Government was required to frame Rules for carrying out the purpose of the Act. However, during the past more than 12 years there was no focus on this important aspect and the Board continued to function without Rules, which are otherwise act as beacon light for any organization to achieve the intended objective.
Though the Board of Professional Entrance Examination came under the public criticism over the selection issue numerous times during all these years, yet the same failed to wake up the Government from the deep slumber. In the absence of Rules, the Board was working in the autocratic way, which led to several scams and frauds.
Following the much publicized paper leak scam of 2012 involving the then Chairman of the BOPEE and subsequent inquiry by the General Administration Department, which held the absence of Rules as the main reason behind lawless situation in the Board, the framing of much needed Rules received the attention of the Government.
Now, more than 12 years after the enactment of Act and on the intervention of Secretary General Administration Department, the Department of Administrative Reforms and Trainings has issued SRO-168 whereby Rules under Section 23 of the Act have been framed. These Rules would come into force from the date of their publication in the Government Gazette.
The Rules have clearly defined important subjects like reservation for candidates for admission to various professional courses and procedure for transaction of the Board business. According to the Rules, there will be a Curriculum Committee of experts of subject specialized by the Board from amongst Principals, HoDs, senior concerned faculty members of the Higher Secondary Institutions, Colleges or University. The Committee will meet at least once in a year and its meeting would be chaired by the Chairman of the BOPEE.
The Committee will recommend syllabus of papers for entrance examinations; marks distribution of the course contents; the pattern of the question papers; maximum marks in each paper; duration of time for each paper and any other measure necessary for carrying out entrance test more effectively.
As per the Rules, there will also be an Advisory Committee comprising Chairman, Controller of Examination, Secretary of Board and Chairman Permanent Statutory Committee or his nominee as Ex-officio members and academicians from amongst the Dean Academic Affairs of Jammu and Kashmir Universities and SKIMS, Dean College Development Council of Jammu and Kashmir Universities, Heads of the Departments of Jammu and Kashmir Universities, Principals of the Colleges and Higher Secondary Schools having specialization in subjects of Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics and English, Principals of Government Medical Colleges of Jammu, Srinagar and ASCOMS, Principals of Government Dental Colleges of Jammu, Srinagar and IDS Jammu, Professors of Universities of Jammu and Kashmir having specialization in subjects of Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics and English, Associate Professors of Universities of Jammu and Kashmir and Colleges etc.
The Advisory Committee will frame policies for the smooth and transparent functioning of the Board; devise policies to ensure efficient conduct of the entrance tests; approve plan to ensure timely conclusion of the admission process and counseling etc.
Besides, elaborating the procedure for conduct of examinations, the Rules have recommended framing of Coordination Committee to coordinate all the activities relating to the conduct of entrance tests.
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