Prometric may face legal action

 
Candidates from all over the country, including a number of them from Bangalore, are actively considering legal recourse for the ‘injustice’ that has been meted out to them.

Meanwhile, Prometric has issued a fresh clarification that all candidates will have the opportunity to take the test although the main testing window closes on Tuesday, December 8. A release from Prometric said, “Any registered candidate who may not have had an opportunity to complete testing by that date will be intimated of a subsequent date and venue for testing over the coming weeks.” However, a number of candidates, who have already appeared for the test in trying circumstances, are questioning the very authenticity of the process.

Punitha (name changed), a candidate who actually quit her job to prepare for CAT, has had a traumatic time and despite sitting for the test after reschedule she says that online CAT 2009 has been massively  unfair. “I know my test performance is really bad. I’m looking to take legal action against the organisers because I will put my performance down to mental exhaustion,” she said.

Four admit cards

Punitha received four different admit cards on account of rescheduling via e-mail. After her test was rescheduled, she spent five hours trying to locate the correct venue because her last admit card did not have any venue mentioned on it. “I was exhausted so I requested the officials to give me some time but I was told that I may not be able to give the test at all even if there was a small delay. Initially, they refused to grant me even a toilet break,” she said.

Another student, Charlotte (name changed) is yet to give her test as the organisers had rescheduled her test twice and informed her at very short notice and is now contemplating legal action. “I was informed one hour before the test about the reschedule. This is simply unfair and and it has happened to a few friends,” she said. She added that she and her friends will fight for the test to be conducted afresh for all candidates.

Further, representatives of coaching centres feel that the organisers are sure to face an uphill legal battle to uphold the sanctity of CAT 2009 and have already advised candidates to seek legal recourse.

Jaideep Singh of TIME said that the aggrieved students have already approached lawyers on behalf of students. “I will be surprised if there is no legal action against the organisers. One of our candidates was told by the agent on the helpline to try next year as his test could not be rescheduled as she was helpless,” Jaideep said. The management at Career Launcher has already advised affected candidates to take the matter to court.