Merits overlooked, disabilities divided in categories
In spite of securing the seventh rank in the physically handicapped
(PH) merit list of the directorate of technical education (DTE), Abhilash Kumar,
22, is unable to secure admission in any of the MBA institutes of his choice.
"I was overwhelmed with my PH merit rank. But when it came to securing admission,
the rank did not help my chances at all. I had applied to 19 colleges, but was not
able to land a seat in any of them," he said. Abhilash suffers from severe learning
disabilities - dyslexia and dysgraphia.
Like him, several other physically handicapped students have been left in the lurch.
Students have alleged that during admissions candidates' merit is being overlooked,
and instead, specific disabilities are being used as criteria for seat allotment.
Instead of allocating the compulsory 3% seat to the PH category on the basis of
merit, the directorate is allegedly dividing the category on the basis of specific
ailments, they alleged.
"We noticed that DTE is allocating seats according to specific handicaps of a student.
This means even if I have procured PH merit of 7, I will not get admission in a
college of my choice. Another student who has secured PH merit 2 is facing the same
problem. He was so sure of getting into Jamnalal Bajaj institute that he didn't
put any other college name in the preference form. After the CAP-I round result
PH category merit was declared on June 30, it's not surprising that both of them
haven't got admission to institutes of our choice," said Abhilash's father Sushil.
Sushil had appealed to the director of DTE, the chief justice of the Bombay high
court and even the governor of the state. But his pleas have fallen on deaf ears.
"I sent letters to all of them, but no one has responded," he said.
With around 99% seats filled in the first CAP round, however, almost all the PH
category students have lost their chance to opt for institutes of their choice.
They are now counting on cancellation of CAP-I round seat allotment and appealing
authorities to keep CAP-II round for PH category.
Recently, a similar situation arose when Roshan Shaikh, a medical aspirant, claimed
that she was not getting admission in any medical college, as she was not considered
eligible because of the nature of her disability. Shaikh had lost her leg in a train
accident. She was using an artificial limb to walk. She had moved the high court.
The court recently passed an order directing the DMER to appoint a special
medical board that will conduct a check-up. In the meanwhile, the court directed
the directorate to reserve one seat in first year MBBS. The next hearing will be
on August 5.
Courtesy: DNA India
