Latest news with #UILS
Time of India
16-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
PU students object to Rs 10K fee for entrance test answer sheet verification
1 2 Chandigarh: A Rs 10,000 fee for verifying entrance test answer sheets at Panjab University has drawn criticism from students and a formal appeal from a student organisation. The charge applies to the entrance exams for the University Institute of Legal Studies (UILS), the 3-year law course, and the Common Entrance Tests for both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. Candidates can request verification within 10 days of result declaration by paying Rs 10,000. The university states that if a discrepancy is found during verification, the result will be revised and the fee refunded. However, students say the high charge discourages many from seeking verification. Some students say the cost has discouraged them from even attempting verification. "I attempted 55 questions out of 100 and was hopeful of scoring at least 30 marks, but my result said 'not qualified', which means less than 10 marks," said Priyanka Sharma, a resident of Amritsar who took the five-year law entrance test. "I wanted to file for verification, but the fee is Rs 10,000—that's too high." In a letter to the Vice-Chancellor, ABVP Panjab University described the fee as an "undue financial burden" and requested it be reduced to a more reasonable amount. The group argued that fair evaluation should not be restricted by cost, particularly for students from modest backgrounds. ABVP member Saksham Sharma said, "Transparency in evaluation is important, but making students pay Rs 10,000 just to view their own answer sheet puts a basic right out of reach for many." The university has not yet responded publicly to the appeal.
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Time of India
PU's lax gates & open pedestrian entry under lens after harassment case
1 2 Chandigarh: Wednesday's case of alleged harassment involving two girl students has once again turned the spotlight on Panjab University's lax entry system—where even vehicle entry checks are proving unreliable, and pedestrian access remains almost entirely unregulated. On Wednesday, a UILS girl student had alleged that two drunk boys in a car harassed her and her friend by trying to stop them and passing comments while they were walking towards their hostel. She also uploaded a video on social media referencing the incident. PU security traced the vehicle through CCTV footage and identified two outsiders. One was called to campus on Thursday, while the other is expected on Friday. "Appropriate action will be taken after speaking with the girls and understanding how they wish to proceed," said a senior PU official. Though this incident involved a car, it has revived broader concerns about how freely people can enter the campus. At PU's main gates in Sector 14 and Sector 25, vehicular checks are often inconsistent. However, it is the completely unchecked pedestrian movement through multiple side gates and low boundary walls that is a big security lapse. The Sector 14 campus has three main gates and at least two smaller ones—one near the campus Gurdwara and Mandir, and another near Gate No. 2 adjoining campus residential area. These gates remain totally unmanned. Sector 25 faces a similar situation, with a gate opens directly into a neighbourhood. It remains unlocked as passage for students of government school located inside Sector 25 campus during school hours and is routinely crossed over even when shut. According to a PU security official, some faculty members and campus residents have resisted its permanent closure as it is commonly used by domestic workers and local residents. But these everyday access points have become a growing concern. "People walk in from the main gates also. There's no mechanism to check them. We are already busy with checking vehicular entry," said a guard posted near Gate No. 2. Earlier this year, outsiders scaled the wall near the Gate No 2 during Holi celebrations. Although fencing was repaired, the wall remains low at multiple points. A few weeks later, a UIET student was fatally stabbed on the Sector 25 campus—an incident that sparked protests and renewed demands for access control. Sector 25, which houses several departments, hostels, and over 2,500 students, remains among the least monitored areas of the campus. Students have repeatedly flagged poor lighting and minimal surveillance, especially at night. In response, PU is in process of recruiting 50 security guards, two security officers, and two assistant officers through the Zila Sainik Board. The long-pending plan to raise the boundary wall is also being revived in consultation with the UT administration. To further curb misuse of access, a new rule has been introduced: outsiders entering after 5pm must be received at the gate by the concerned student or staff member. "We are going one step ahead to stop those who falsely claim they have to meet someone," said Prof Dinesh Kumar, the newly appointed faculty incharge of PU security. BOX- New 5 PM rule In the wake of the recent harassment complaint, PU has introduced a new rule for evening access: outsiders entering the campus after 5pm will only be allowed if the concerned student or staff member comes to receive them at the gate. "This is to stop misuse of access," said PU security faculty incharge Prof Dinesh Kumar.
