Panjab University students protest day after NET cancellation

Groups of Panjab University students came out to protest against the cancellation of the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) National Eligibility Examination (NET), holding demonstrations at the Students’ Center on Thursday after- noon against the NTA’s alleged negligence in conducting the test.

Slogans were launched against the government, which the students accused of “gambling” with their future.

The NET exam conducted on Tuesday was canceled by the National Testing Agency (NTA) following reports that its integrity was compromised, students were left in a fix and all eyes are now on the NTA for see what decision they will make regarding holding the exam.

Members of the protest groups, including the Punjab Students’ Union (Lalkaar), Students For Society, Ambedkar Students’ Association and the Students’ Organization of India, have demanded that anyone found guilty of this scam be punished and that the government recognizes its mistake and works to ensure that the exams are leak-proof in the future.

Diljit Singh from Kangra, Himachal, had traveled all the way to the city to appear for the examination from St Joseph’s Secondary School in Sector 44-D.

The 31-year-old was one of several students who came to the city from other states to take the test. A government employee, he had to take leave from his job to appear for the exam. “What is the point of punishing those in other centers if there are reports of cheating in one area? What the refund process will be and we are not sure if we will schedule time for a later date. The authorities have failed us,” he said.

The teacher of a coaching institute in Sector 15, meanwhile, said the news was a big blow to the students.

“Many students gave this exam as their last chance and have now exceeded the age limit to become a Junior Resident Fellow. What will become of them now? The NTA must keep all these cases in mind before issuing the next guidelines,” the teacher added.