Mamata 'rescues' students barred secondary exams

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Saturday said 410 students who did not get admit cards for the secondary examinations and were on the verge of losing an academic year, would be allowed to register for the exams Sunday.

The students of Kakinara Adarsha High School in North 24 Parganas of the state were denied admit cards for the Madhyamik examinations (class X) beginning Feb 24, after the West Bengal Board for Secondary Education did not recognise them as bona fide examinees.

"On humanitarian ground and to ensure they do not lose a precious academic year, it has been decided that all the 410 students who did not get admit cards will be allowed to register for the exams Sunday at the Board office," Banerjee said at the state secretariat here.

The students had Friday approached the Calcutta High Court seeking an order to be allowed to sit for the exams but Justice Debasish Kargupta dismissed their plea.

As a result, some of the students turned restive and indulge in vandalism in the court premises.

Admitting there was some negligence, Banerjee, however, refused to blame the Board for the issue.

"The Board allowed 470 students to appear for the exams. While there has been some negligence, neither the Board nor the government is to be blamed for the 410 students not getting admit cards," added Banerjee.