LS polls have PU exams in a limbo

Shuchita Mehta / TNN / Feb 3, 2009, 01:58 IST

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There’s a certain buzz at Panjab University these days, and it?s all got to do with examinations in the times of Parliamentary elections.

CHANDIGARH: There��s a certain buzz at Panjab University these days, and it��s all got to do with examinations in the times of Parliamentary elections.
With Lok Sabha polls scheduled to be held in the months of April and May, testing times have just begun for students. More than one lakh youngsters, including undergraduate and post-graduate students at PU and its affiliated colleges are expected to sit for the tests in the coming months, and the one question that��s constant in their minds is - when exactly will they begin, and end.
With the datesheet yet to be declared, students are a confused lot as uncertainty looms large over the final announcement.Though the library is chockablock 24x7 with many late-bloomers arranging for notes, the anxiety this time is more about exam schedule, than the course to be covered.
On their part, even the authorities are clueless as they are waiting for a notification from the election commission before finalizing the exam calendar. Sources said the datesheet is expected to be out in a week��s time.

According to information, the controller of examination has been holding regular meetings with vice-chancellor RC Sobti and dean university instructions SC Vaidya to decide upon the final dates of annual as well as semester exams.
Talking to TOI, controller of examination, Panjab University, AK Bhandari said, ?The exams will either be postponed or a gap of a few days will be given to ensure that there is no overlapping with the elections in Punjab and Chandigarh.? Though authorities are in a fix, they maintain exams won��t be advanced, much to the relief of students.

Usually, annual tests for undergraduate courses in colleges commence in April and those for post-graduate courses continue till the last week of May. Importantly, the schedule is announced by January.
However, this year, nothing is decided yet. In case university exams are postponed, declaration of results would obviously be affected. ��What if this disturbs the admission procedure,�� wondered Akhil Dutt, a BCom (final-year) student, who is planning to join a PG course. ��There is a lot of confusion. I hope the dates are announced soon so that my children can concentrate on studies,�� said a worried parent, Manjit Singh.
Even during last general elections in the region that was held on May 10, 2004, Panjab University had to reschedule its examination datesheet.

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