EFLU students to move HC

Hyderabad: Students of English and Foreign Language University (EFLU) decided to knock the doors of Andhra Pradesh High Court over the ‘cut-off mark system’ in the entrance exam. For the first time, the university has introduced cut-off mark for admission into undergraduate and postgraduate courses. The new system left students red-faced as it would restrict the number of students joining for different courses.

Students alleged that university has introduced 50 per cent cut-off mark system without mentioning in the admission notification that was released in the month of December. “Introducing the cut-off mark is the clear violation of Right to Education Act. Officials are making all efforts to cut down the number of students joining the varsity. As it is illegal move by the authorities, we have decided to move to High Court,” said N Sateesh, PhD Scholar.

“Last year the University of Hyderabad decided to do away with the cut-off system. In 2009, All India Institute of Medical Sciences scrapped 50 per cent cut-off mark, as many seats including reserved were remained unfilled,” said Mohammed Azfal, a student.

Cut-off mark for general category is 50, for OBC-45 while for SC/ST it is 30 mark. Students alleged that the university introduced after examination results were out. “The implication of cut-off is that, in the MEd course which has a total of 36 seats, with cut-off system only two people found to be eligible in the general category, in OBC where students have to secure 45 mark, with cut-off mark in place, nobody got selected. In last year’s admission, students who secured 10 marks in the entrance exam were admitted into the courses. With cut-off mark, the university is depriving students of their opportunities,” said Azfal added.

“According to the government of India, SC/ST students shouldn’t be given cut-off mark, but this university has introduced for them as well,” said Mohan Dharavath, PhD Scholar.

When eligibility criterion of 55 per cent score in the last qualifying examination was already in place to appear for the entrance, why the university has introduced cut-off system, students questioned.

According to students, the university had violated rules for following proper procedure for the cut-off mark and by not mentioning it in the notification. “Cut-off mark vary from subject to subject, but here in this case, it has been fixed same 50 marks for all courses,” Mohan said.

“University Vice-Chancellor is showing her dictatorship on the students. With the cut-off mark, she wants to restrict students from joining the varsity. She thinks that it will bring down the frequent protests by students against her,” said Sateesh.

Prof. Madhavan, acting registrar of the university, stated that the cut-off mark system internal matter of the university. “Why should I tell you?” he arrogantly questioned the correspondent.