The story of Soni Kumari, a student at the University Institute of Technology (UIT) Burdwan, is one that is unfortunately all too common in educational institutions around the world. As a third-year electrical engineering student, Soni has been denied the opportunity to take her semester exams due to the fact that she has not been given her registration number by the university. Despite being admitted to the college through the decentralized quota based on her (10+2) marks, Soni has been told that she cannot take her exams as she did not give the WBJEE examination.
Soni’s case is particularly heart-wrenching because she has already completed 2.5 years of her course, attended all the regular classes with more than 70% attendance, and successfully cleared all her exams until the 4th semester. She has also paid her full semester fees till the 4th semester, and the college authorities had categorically acknowledged that she was given admission based on her (10+2) marks as per the guidelines provided by the mandate as per the principal.
Now, the university authorities have informed her that her registration will not be done, leaving her in a difficult position. She comes from a lower-middle-class family, and her family is already in debt giving her college fees. She is now seeing her career being destroyed without any fault of hers, and she does not know where to turn for help.
It is shocking that the college authorities are denying only three students the opportunity to take their exams, despite the fact that there are other students who did not come through the WBJEE processes and have no proper rank card. This is not only unfair but also mentally harassing and indirectly torturing the affected students. It is clear that there is an ongoing political battle between the college authorities and the principal, and the students are being made the victims.
Soni’s story is a reminder of the many challenges that students face in pursuing their dreams of education, particularly those from marginalized communities. It is essential that universities and colleges put in place transparent admission processes and ensure that students are not penalized for the administrative inefficiencies of the institution.
We call on the higher authorities to take up Soni’s case and ensure that she is given a fair opportunity to complete her course and take her exams. It is not just about her future but also about the future of her family, who have invested in her education with the hope that one day she will be able to support them financially. We hope that justice will prevail, and Soni and other affected students will be given the support they need to continue their education and pursue their dreams.
