Odd semester degree exams under Bangalore University started Monday with some confusion regarding the issuance of hall tickets. Several city colleges did not issue hall tickets to students who did not have the minimum required 75 per cent attendance.
Navya (name changed), a fifth semester BCom student from Dayananda Sagar College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Kumaraswamy Layout, could not write the first exam on Monday as she did not get her hall ticket. “The college management says that we have less then 60 per cent attendance. But we were given hall tickets earlier despite having less than 75 per cent. In fact, students with even 40 per cent attendance were given hall tickets after collecting a fine,” she said.
“This time, our management has made it very strict. If students don’t have minimum 75 per cent attendance, we are not issuing hall tickets. Earlier, we used to collect fines, but it is a double-edged sword. If we take fines, they complain to the university,” said an official from Dayananda Sagar College.
There was confusion in Oxford College, J P Nagar, as well.
Rahul, a third semester BCom student with 59 per cent attendance, got his hall ticket just before the exam started. “I had to pay Rs 5,000 as fine. But some of my friends did not write the exam as they couldn’t afford to pay so much,” Rahul said.
Responding to queries, BU registrar (Evaluation) R K Somashekhar told Express that the University had issued hall tickets to all eligible students.
“From our end, there is no problem. The problem must be with the college managements. When it comes to attendance, the rule is very clear that a student must have attendance of 75 per cent and above. Else, there is no way a student can sit for exams,” Somashekhar said.