Source: The Imphal Free Press
Imphal, July 04:
A number of young candidates of the state hoping to pursue further studies in the engineering and allied stream are having their hopes belied because of a regulation in the rules governing the selection of government nominees for engineering courses which requires them to be in the age group 17-22 years as on 1st March of this year.
The application forms of scores of candidates, who have successfully passed the 12th standard examinations this year, for the competitive test for selection of government nominees for engineering and allied courses are being rejected outright by the office of the controller of technical education.
Applications of even those candidates who miss the age restriction by just a few days are being rejected, according to reliable sources.
The competitive test is scheduled to be held on July 7 next and issue of admit cards has already begun.
The sources however pointed out that most engineering college in India set the lower age limit to 16 years and some colleges don't even have any lower age limit.
The sources further noted that the Board of Secondary Education, Manipur allows candidates of age 15 years or above as of 1st April of the concerned year to appear in the High School Leaving Certificate Examination.
They pointed out that the fact that the fact that the rules for the engineering courses set the age limit at 17 years as of 1st March of a year, means that those candidates who have cleared the HSLC and thereafter the HSE, but whose birthdays fall between 1st March and 1st April are being unjustly deprived of the chance to compete in the selection test.
In this connection, aggrieved parents have urged that the age limit should be set at 16 years, as most of other states in India are providing.