Imphal, July 09: Close on the heels of the Churachandpur District Students' Union (CDSU) threatening to snap ties with the Board of Secondary Education Manipur (BSEM) to protest non-apportionment of centre in the district for the HSLC 2008 compartmental examination, the Board today announced it would open one such centre.

Speaking to newspersons at the Babupara office of the Board this afternoon, BSEM Secretary L Rajmohan said after discussion with the Board's Examination Committee members it has been decided that an exam centre would be established at Churachandpur.

Reminding that the Board had been providing exam centres for the Old course matriculation examination in Churachandpur district, Rajmohan said as candidates appearing in the compartmental examination are few in number it was initially decided that exam centres would be opened at Imphal areas at a single location/venue.

However, considering the fact that the then Education Minister L nandakumar and representatives of CDSU had signed a memorandum in 2006 for provision of matriculation exam centre in Churachandpur the agreement would be respected and the candidates facilitated to appear in the compartmental exam in the district.

The examination would commence from July 14 .

It is pertinent to mention here that the CDSU had set July 12 as the deadline for the Board to decide on whether to provide examination centre in Churachandpur district or not.

In pursuit of its demand for providing an examination centre CDSU volunteers had seized files from the office of Zonal Education Officer, Churachandpur in addition to directing heads of educational institutions in the district against seeking enrolment or registration with the Board and COHSEM from class I to XII.

The Board also described as unjustifiable and uncalled for the indefinite bandh being called by candidates who had been barred from appearing in the Old course matriculation examination on technical ground.

According to the Board's Examination Controller M Matum candidature of certain students had been rejected as they did not fulfilled prescribed eligibility criteria.

Explaining on the said criteria, the Board official said candidates should have passed class IX examination under the BSEM before the 2007 session, should have appeared (but unsuccessful) in both the old and new course HSLC examinations of the Board or had appeared in similar exams under a recognised board of other States.

Moreover, candidacy would be considered for the examination only after the candidates submit documents in support of their case during form fill-up procedures, Matum maintained.

Justifying the Board's decision for rejection of those candidates who had formed a JAC and sponsored the indefinite bandh since July 8 midnight, the official pointed out that during verification of submitted documents these rejected students were found to have passed/appeared class IX examination from Guwahati based schools particularly Sonaram Government High School and Railways High School.

Highlighting that these students had not adhered to the Board's rules and regulations for appearance in class IX exam under the BSEM thereby resulting in rejection of the candidacy, the Examination Controller further informed that number of students rejected is 350.He also appealed to the rejected candidates to reconsider and revoke their agitation programme.

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