Student forced out of college for losing hall ticket

Despite rule book, invigilator does not allow him to appear for HSC paper

Despite rule book, invigilator does not allow him to appear for HSC paper

Panicked:Shamsi Obaid who lost his hall ticket was allowed to appear for the HSC English paper by his college, but by then an hour had elapsed.

Shamsi Obaid (20) woke up yesterday, confident he would do well in his HSC English paper. In the evening, there was no trace of this confidence after he returned home in tears after attempting just half the paper.

Obaid, a student of Bhavan's College at Chowpatty, lost the hall ticket after he left home, but decided to get to the exam centre at Lala Lajpat Rai College at Haji Ali.

"I only knew my seat number so I went to the class, but the invigilator refused to let me in without the ticket. Finally, he told me to go home and told the peon to escort me off the campus."

Panicked, Obaid then rushed to his own college where he was allowed to give the exam, but by then over an hour had elapsed.

"I stayed up all night to study, but in the end, I could attempt just about half the paper. I know I could have done better, if I had more time," he said.

Obaid has now been issued a letter from his college stating that he has lost his hall ticket and that the board will reissue him a new hall ticket for the rest of his papers.

Take action

"We have been constantly repeating to college principals that they need to contact the Board immediately in such cases.

We have taken note of the incident and will examine the explanation given by the centre head," said Mumbai divisional board secretary Basanti Roy.

NSUI leader Vijay Kanojia, who intervened on behalf of Obaid, said, "How can they play with the future of students? We want disciplinary action against the invigilator," he said.

Principals of both colleges tried to play down the matter. Bhavan's principal Dr Susi Kuriakose said that the boy had been eventually able to attempt the paper. "He came here in a panic and we accommodated him," she said.

On the other hand, Lala's principal Dr S N Shetty said that the student should have approached the higher management before leaving the college.

"We are letting in other students who have forgotten ID cards or hall tickets. The student should have come to me directly. I found out about the matter when he reached his own college and his principal called," he said.

What the rule book says

As per the HSC board rules, a student is allowed to appear for the exams if he has lost his hall ticket provided his own college is contacted immediately for the necessary permissions.

The Board, this year, also began a helpline 27893756 to address emergencies