Thrissur: Several diploma holders pursuing B Tech in two dozen colleges in Kerala are now awaiting a favourable court verdict to write exams.
As many as 235 students from 23 colleges across Kerala could not take the exam held in April as they could not upload diploma marks on the official website of the Commissioner of Entrance Examinations within the stipulated time.
These students had gained lateral entry into the third semester in various engineering colleges after completing their diploma course.
The entrance test for these students could not be conducted last year due to serious COVID-19 situation prevailing then. The third semester classes began on August 17.
In October diploma holders seeking B Tech admission were directed to upload their marks on the entrance commissioner's website. In a serious communication gap many students missed out on the announcement. It is even alleged that some colleges did not convey this instruction properly to their students.
For securing lateral entry one needs to score 60 per cent marks in diploma course. Even those students who had secured more than 60 per cent marks could not appear in the exams.
The students came to know that they would not be able to write the exam scheduled in April when one of the third semester examination was being held. Though they filed a petition before a single bench of the High Court, there was no favourable decision. In the meantime the exam was held on April 15.
With the rest of the exams scheduled to begin from July 13, the students have approached the Division Bench of the High Court.