Engineering pupils may move court over eight-year rule

Updated on: Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Engineering students who were not allowed to write their exams because of the state’s eight-year rule are contemplating moving court against what they call the policy’s “random implementation”.

The rule, which mandates that students complete the engineering course in eight years, was passed in September 2002. This year, students who joined before 2002 were also barred from appearing for the exam.

After spending 8-15 years pursuing the course, students are distraught at being disqualified for the degree now. Their other complaint is that they were not informed of the decision at the beginning of the academic year and given hall tickets despite their ostensible ineligibility. Some students gathered outside the university’s Fort campus on Sunday to protest against the policy.

The 2002 circular mentions that the rule will be effective from the 2003-04 batch, which makes this the first year where students have reached the eight-year deadline. Those who are taking longer than eight years were also disallowed this time by the university—another move that rankled some students. “I appeared for the first paper and was not allowed for the second. If the university knew I was ineligible, why was I given the hall ticket,” asked a student who has been pursuing the degree for 10 years.

S K Ukrande, dean of technology, said, “We are sympathetic to the students and we will come up with a decision soon. However, students should understand it does not give a good impression to employers if they take 10-15 years to clear a four-year course. Since they have been given the option of several attempts, it is being misused.”

Ukrande added that the academic council will discuss the matter on December 21.

Many students claimed they could not complete their course for several years due to family obligations. One student from a college in Navi Mumbai could not appear for his exam for a whole year as he was suffering from cancer. “After spending so many years, if we are told that we will not get the degree, we will be left only with our class XII certificate,” said a student.

Engineering pupils may move court over eight-year rule

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