CLAT 2018: Grievance Redressal Committee suggests score compensation

NEW DELHI, JUNE 7: The CLAT 2018 Grievance Committee constituted by the National University of Advanced Legal Studies Kochi (NUALS) has filed its report before the Supreme Court. According to the report, the Committee agrees on the fact the 13^th May online Common Law Admission Test was conducted with improper facilities and witnessed mismanagement across different test centres across India. Further, the committee after looking into the individual complaints of the CLAT 2018 takers has suggested that they should be compensated with bonus marks.

The Grievance Committee headed by retired Kerala HC Judge, Justice MR Hariharan Nair, has concluded CLAT 2018 was fraught with various imperfections. However, the committee has not advised for a re-test.

“…Though the course of cancelling CLAT 2018 and conducting it afresh is open, it does not suggest the same, considering the magnitude of requirements to conduct such an exam and the need to ensure smooth education of successful candidates during the current academic year…,” reads an excerpt of the suggestions submitted before the apex court by the CLAT 2018 Grievance Committee.

The defects

The Committee considering complaints of the CLAT 2018 takers and petitioners have reported the following defects in the 13^th May online paper. Find the list of select defects.

1. Frequent Login Failures
2. Change of machines/mouse and disruptions
3. Questions not visible in full or part
4. Registered answers disappeared
5. Commotion and distraction
6. Undue time provided to other test takers
7. Ineffective time extensions without any re-login
8. Power failures
9. Non-co0perative invigilators

A mass issue

The Committee submitting its report before the Supreme Court pointed out that there are a total of 4690 registered complaints received regarding the conduct of the law admission test.

Further, the Grievance Committee upon inspecting the log-break provided by the CLAT 2018 Office, also reported the following findings of the exam day–

• 70 candidates lost less than one minute
• 140 candidates lost less than two minutes
• 94 candidates lost more than one minute
• 1899 candidates required multiple logins

In addition to the above statistics, out of the 1899 who needed multiple-logins, 92 test takers were not offered any further extension of time and another 623 test takers were provided effective two-hour time to finish their CLAT online paper. Interestingly, on one hand, where 449 test takers did not avail the offered extra time, as many as 558 candidates availed the same.

The Committee says

The committee has suggested for a method to be adopted in order to compensate the CLAT 2018 takers with marks, on account of the time lost by them during the re-login process or were at an extra-time disadvantage.

Further, the committee has also remarked that after the compensation is provided to the test takers and the allotment list is redrawn, it needs to be taken care that the existing list remains unaffected.

In its report, the Grievance Committee states, “That is to say, in case one or more candidates with the same mark acquires eligibility for the reason that another person with the same mark has got into the eligibility list as per the existing rank, (say 51), such candidates may be added with Rank Nos. 51A, 51B etc. and for accommodating the number of such additional entrants an equal number of supernumerary seats may be created on an ad hoc basis.”

In addition to the suggestions of the compensation, the committee has also shown its incapacity on advising a compensatory formula for the same and prayed before the apex court for an expansion of the committee by including a statistician of competence. In the alternative, the committee has also asked for a formula or other remedial solution suggested at the bar.

What next

The next hearing on this matter is scheduled for June 11, 2018.

The story so far

The Supreme Court had ordered NUALS Kochi to constitute a Grievance Committee which would look after the individual complaints of CLAT 2018 takers on account of the mismanaged Common Law Admission Test administered on May 13 across India.

The CLAT is a law entrance test conducted for admissions to 2300 seats on offer across the 19 NLUs.