Supreme Court relief to NET candidates

In a relief to thousands of aspirants takingthe national eligibility test (NET), the UGC has withdrawn its decision to increase the cut-off marks for clearing the NET, following a Supreme Court order on Friday. The UGC had increased the eligibility score by 15% without notice.

The national educational testing bureau of the UGC conducts the NET for determining the eligibility for lectureship and for awarding junior research fellowship to ensure minimum standards for the entrants in the teaching profession and research. The NET is conducted in June and December every year.

The UGC, however, made several changes in the June 2012 exam, including increasing the cut-off marks. The candidates learnt about the changes only when the UGC announced it a day after announcing the results of the exam on September 18.

As per the initial notification, candidates belonging to the SC/ST sections needed 35, 35, and 60 marks respectively for qualifying papers 1, 2 and 3. The marks to be obtained by the OBCs were set as 35, 35, and 68 and for those belonging to the general category it was 40, 40, and 75. But, when the results were announced, candidates who would've been eligible as per the initial criteria failed to qualify.

As per the new criteria, the percentage of marks to be scored by candidates belonging to different categories has been increased by 15%.

This made several students file an affidavit with the SC against the UGC regarding change in norms. On Friday, the SC issued an order saying that the UGC's decision was invalid as it did not follow the exam policy in announcing the changes in cut-offs and that, too, in such a short period of time. An official at the University of Pune that conducts the NET exam said, "The SC decision is valid for all candidates who sat for the June 2012 examinations. The old cut-offs will be considered and new results will be announced."

SOURCE: TIMES OF INDIA