Extend time for diploma students to pay arrears fee: HC

KR Devadurai of Paramakudi in Ramanathapuram district, pursuing Civil Engineering in a polytechnic college in Pudukottai, petitioned that he did not fare well in semester examinations and hence applied for revaluation. However, the petitioner cited there’s a delay in the revaluation and since he did not come out successful in it, he wanted to reappear for the test. But he claimed that he could not pay the arrear examination fee on or before March 10, 2020, the last date for such payment. The petitioner sought court help to make the respondents, including the Director of Technical Education, Chennai and the Chairman, Board of Examinations, Department of Technical Education, Chennai to accept the examination fees for the arrear papers of the petitioner and to permit him to write the examination.

When the plea came up for hearing before Justice S Vaidyananthan, KP Krishnadoss, Special Government Pleader, sought time to ascertain from the respondents about the possibility of permitting the petitioner to write his arrears examinations as it would be very difficult for the respondents to prepare question papers for one person and conduct examinations. He further submitted that if the request of the petitioner is entertained, there’s every possibility of receiving more such requests by the respondents.

However, the Judge observed that nonpayment of examination fee on time is neither wanton nor willful and therefore, the government might provide one “last opportunity” not only to the petitioner, but also to similarly placed persons to appear for the examination, due to the prevailing pandemic, clearly stating that ‘if they fail to avail the said opportunity, it will be a “lost opportunity.”