50 candidates refused entry to BLS exam centres

The first ever Law Common Entrance Test for admission to the five-year Bachelor of Law Studies (BLS) course was conducted on Saturday in which 10,890 students appeared at 72 exam centres across the state. While the two-hour exam went off smoothly at most centres, around 50 students were turned away as they were unable to provide proper identification documents along with their exam hall tickets. The Yuva Sena has said that there could be more such cases and hence the state should have a re-exam.

According to Mahadeo Jagtap of Yuva Sena, they received complaints from Thane wherein around 50 students who reached the Kasar exam centre were asked to provide additional proof to be able to appear for the exam. “The students were delayed by around 10-15 minutes while arranging for the additional proof and hence refused to appear for the test. This is just one such instance but we are sure there will be more such cases in the state. Hence, we demand that the government reconduct the tests,” said Mr Jagtap.

Officials from the state CET cell that conducted the test, however, maintained that students were informed about carrying additional identity proof to the exam centre. “The exam was of two hours and was scheduled to start at 10 am. Students had been asked to report by 9 am. Those who failed to reach on time or not produce additional proof may have been barred from appearing for the test,” said the official.

The test consisted of 150 marks paper which included 40 marks question for legal aptitude, 30 marks for general knowledge, 30 marks for logical reasoning, 30 marks for English and 20 marks for general maths. According to the state CET official, there would be no negative marking in the exam. The entrance test for the three-year Bachelor of Law degree course will be held on Sunday, June 19.