A deviation from syllabus has left Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) aspirants fuming – so much so that many are even planning to file a Public Interest Litigation.
BANGALORE: A deviation from syllabus has left Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) aspirants fuming – so much so that many are even planning to file a Public Interest Litigation. Their grievance is that the CLAT website had clearly stated that in the general knowledge section, students would be tested “on their knowledge of current affairs (broadly defined as matters featuring in the mainstream media between March 2011 and March 2012)”. For legal reasoning, “candidate will not be tested on any prior knowledge of law or legal concepts. If a technical/legal term is used in the question, that term will be explained in the question itself”, it stated.
However, according to the candidates, at least 15 questions were static GK and 5-8 questions required some knowledge of law, which the pre law
students claim is unfair. “Many students and law graduates are now planning to move court. There is no need for a retest; they can at best declare the
questions void. But the question remains as to why the authorities were so irresponsible. The paper was otherwise not so bad,” said Rajneesh Singh,
National Product Manager (CLAT), IMS Learning Centre.
.
A facebook page has been created where CLAT aspirants vented their frustration and disappointment on Monday, a day after CLAT was held across the country. While some were trying to mobilize people to join them in filing PILs, there were others who commented on the injustice they were facing. “It was really unfair. NLU Jodhpur let me down. Such carelessness. How can you ask a jurisprudence question to a pre law student!” said one. Another messaged: “Gave more importance to CLAT than boards.. but i guess they don’t worth it!
One of the students has even messaged that he’s approached Ram Jethmalani.
However, when TOI contacted National Law University, Jodhpur, the organizing university for this year, they said no action had been initiated so far.
“We have received some calls ourselves. But the question paper is made and moderated by an expert committee. We have no right to comment on it or intervene. As of now, no action has been decided on it,” Ratan Lahoti, registrar, told TOI from Jodhpur.
CLAT holds the key to the 14 prestigious law schools of the country. Around 25,000 students appeared for the test this year. Of them, 916 were from
Bangalore.
Source : Times of India
