The Kerala Assembly on Tuesday adopted a resolution demanding the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led federal government to take appropriate steps to reform the national entrance examination system in the wake of the National Eligibility for Entrance Test (NEET) leak and widespread irregularities in the conduct of professional examinations.
The resolution, moved by Higher Education Minister Roji M. John, was supported by UDF and LDF MLAs, while two BJP legislators opposed it as the resolution criticized the Union government.
The minister said that the decision comes at a time when the credibility and transparency of exams such as NET are threatened by widespread irregularities in their conduct, technical errors in exam centers, and deficiencies in the evaluation system.
“It is condemnable that the Union government and the relevant authorities fail to take corrective steps and acknowledge the seriousness of the errors despite numerous reports of irregularities,” the resolution said.
She stressed that such violations negatively impact the hard work, dedication and preparation of students over the years across India and violate the constitutional rights to equality afforded to them.
The decision called for the initiation of model criminal proceedings against erring officials in addition to the suppression of malpractice networks organizing examinations.
“It is important to promote an effective mechanism to ensure that the views and suggestions of state governments are duly taken into account while taking policy decisions on entrance examinations. Education is a subject in the Concurrent List of the Constitution,” he said.
BJP MLA V Muraleedharan’s amendment to strike out criticism of the Union government was defeated in the resolution while the resolution was adopted by voice vote.
