Kolkata: Calcutta University has postponed its under-graduate first semester examinations scheduled after April 13 because many affiliated colleges have been occupied for the assembly elections, disrupting access to examination venues.The university authorities said the decision was taken after reviewing the difficulties caused by poll-related occupation of college campuses. Vice-Chancellor Asutosh Ghosh said: “We were keen to finish the exams as per schedule but after assessing the present situation thoroughly, there was no choice but to postpone exams, which are scheduled in away centres. As most of the colleges have been occupied and there are restrictions on free movement, students cannot be expected to write exams at away centres.“Last week, the university held a meeting with principals of around 40 undergraduate colleges from Hooghly, Howrah, South 24 Parganas and Kolkata to discuss the issue. According to officials, most principals raised concerns over the logistics of conducting examinations.A principal from Howrah said that colleges were willing to hold examinations but had little control over the restrictions imposed during the election period. Many principals reportedly told the university that examinations until April 13 could continue without major difficulty because students would be writing papers on their own campuses.The problem was expected to intensify from April 16, when the examinations were to shift to away centres, including campuses under EC control where EVMs would be stationed and entry restricted. Although the postponement may affect the academic calendar, Ghosh said other examinations, especially sixth-semester tests, would not be affected.
