Despite alleged political pressure, DBJ College in Chiplun debars 19 candidates, with less than 50% attendance each, from appearing in the examinations.
A group of class XII students, who had had a little too much fun at the expense of studies over the past academic year, have grudgingly made reparations. The DBJ College in Chiplun, Ratnagiri, forbade 19 candidates with less than 50 per cent attendance from appearing in the examinations and returned their hall tickets to the state board. Sources say in spite of political pressure, the college principal remained firm on his stand to make sure the educational environment and discipline of the institute prevailed.
True test: (Above) Students appear for the HSC exams at Wadia College. (below) DBJ College Pic/Krunal Gosavi
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DBJ College
According to rules set by Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE), no student can appear for class XII or class X exams unless he or she has at least 75 per cent attendance in the academic year. Regardless of this rule, many colleges give ‘concession’ to students while issuing hall tickets.
Principled principal
Speaking with MiD DAY from Chiplun, Dr Shyam Joshi, principal of Dr Datar Science, Dr Behre Arts and Shri Pilukaka Joshi Commerce (DBJ) College said, “I have only adhered to the rules set by MSBSHSE. All these students have less than 50 per cent attendance. So we didn’t have any option but to send back their hall tickets to MSBSHSE’s Konkan divisional board in Ratnagiri.”
Senior superintendent of Konkan divisional board MG Jadhav confirmed that the students were in the wrong. “We have received the hall tickets of 19 students from the college. These kids have not fulfilled the required attendance for class XII,” he said.
“According to due procedure, the college submits HSC exam forms to state board in the month of December and we prepare final attendance report of all students on January 31.
So, while tendering the forms in December, we cannot presume how many students will fulfil the attendance norm. This year we received hall tickets of HSC exam from state board on February 1. After going through the records we established that 19 students were lacking in attendance. We immediately informed their parents about the rules and sent back their hall tickets to the board,” Dr Joshi added.
Asked about the pressures he faced over the past days, the principal said, “In the last two weeks, members of some political parties were constantly bullying me and my team members. Approaching in big numbers, making baseless arguments, were the means they adopted to secure the hall tickets for the students. Surprisingly, some members of the local media too supported their agenda.”
Praiseworthy
Meanwhile Sarjerao Jadhav, chairman of MSBSHSE, lauded the college principal for acting by rules. “In exceptional cases we allow students falling short of the attendance mark by say 10%. But in this case all the students have less than 50 per cent attendance. Obviously, the college didn’t have any option but to return their hall tickets to the state board,” he said.
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