Chaos and uncertainty prevailed among students after the Goa University executive council declared the Common Entrance Test result for admission (G-CLAT) to the first year BA LLB programme for 2023-24 null and void after its fact-finding committee found malpractices in the procedure.
In a bizarre turn of events, Goa University cancelled the admission process of first-year students in both law colleges — Salgaocar College of Law at Miramar and G R Kare College of Law, Margao, and announced a re-test on August 6. Classes were shut only to be directed by the High Court to resume after a petition challenging the University decision came up for hearing on Wednesday.
Controversy erupted after Kare College conducted the G-CLAT test without considering any proportionate weightage to the 12th Std marks. Rules mandate an equal 50 per cent weightage to the 12th Std results and G-CLAT. Students and parents have charged the principal of G R Kare College of Law with manipulating the system to accommodate his son, who was also seeking admission.
Surprisingly, Goa University announced the merit list without any fact-checks on the prescribed criteria. That means the college decides and the University endorses. Even if the principal of Kare College made some exemptions, they should have been detected at a certain level before announcing the final list. Students have become unnecessary targets for no fault, especially those who have fallen out of admission because their higher secondary marks have not been considered. We are now faced with a situation where students have onboarded a class without being guaranteed a seat because the University has called for a re-exam.
Instead of jeopardising students' careers by a re-exam, Goa University should have considered the previous marks and allotted weightage according to the set rules. The mess created sets a bad precedent in the education space, and Goa University should ensure that it adapts better mechanisms to filter out biases or wrongdoings even at the top level without exposing the students to such uncertainties of careers.
There have to be full-proof systems with enough checks and balances. The principal may be the head of the institution, but that authority cannot be allowed to bend the rules and serve vested interests. If that's the case, then we have a flawed educational system, and this could be a wake-up call.
The fact that malpractices have been found in the conduct of G-CLAT by the fact-find high-level team indicates that all is not well and the system is lacking somewhere, and it is appalling that laws have been flouted in an institution that teaches laws.
The court is expected to hear the case on Monday and give necessary orders. However, Goa University must get to the bottom of this case and take appropriate action after careful study. The suspensions of the principal and librarian by the college cannot bring closure to this case. Those guilty of playing mischief with the careers of students must be punished with even termination of service because such instances bring an entire educational system into disrepute.
