400 students who took KCET again this year under lens

Bengaluru: The Karnataka Examinations Authority has withheld ranks of more than 400 students who had re-appeared for the Karnataka Common Entrance Test (KCET) this year, suspecting their role in last year’s engineering seat-blocking case.

The KEA has withheld their ranks since they have not yet replied to the showcause notice issued last year to over 1,600 students who had appeared for the exam last year. These students had not reported to their colleges last year despite being allotted seats, raising suspicions of seat-blocking.

“Of the 1,600 students, around 400 students have appeared for the KCET again this year and since we have their data stored in the system, we withheld their the ranks,” said H Prasanna, Executive Director KEA.

Some of these students have now approached the KEA, seeking allotment of ranks for professional courses to allow them to take part in the seat allotment.

“Now, since they have started approaching the KEA, we have decided to give them a chance by forming a committee so that genuine cases do not suffer,” Prasanna said.

According to Prasanna, these students were responsible for loss of seats and they have to show the necessary documents to justify the reason why they did not report to the college last year.

“As of now, we have received requests from over 150 students seeking release of ranks. We have asked them to appear before the committee. Based on the statements, documents and the committee’s report, we will take a call,” Prasanna stated.

Initially, KEA had decided not to entertain these students’ requests, but it reconsidered its decision in the interest of genuine students and decided to form the committee. “Clear instructions have been given to the committee to carry out a thorough investigation and not go merely on the students’ statements. Every claim must be backed by documents,” Prasanna clarified.

The police had recently completed the investigation into the seat-blocking case and filed a charge-sheet. The KEA is also studying the charge-sheet as there is no mention about the roles of the colleges.