Kurukshetra University postpones exams due to heavy rains, hundreds lose money, waste leave

NEW DELHI: Hundreds of second-year students enrolled in Masters of Arts in Mass Communication (MAMC) course of Haryana’s Kurukshetra University are in a fix after the state government-run university postponed the scheduled examination due to heavy rainfall on Monday.

Students studying in distance mode were informed about the postponement just two hours before the exam was scheduled to begin and after they had travelled by flights, trains, and taxis to reach the examination centers. Many had taken leave from employers, battled heavy rainfall and paid extra for cabs to reach on time.

Ironically, Kurukshetra University’s reason for postponing all examinations till July 13 was the “inconvenience caused to the examinees by the incessant rain”. The university’s VC issued instructions to the examination branch of all test centres that the exams will not be conducted till July 13. North India has been seeing torrential rains for the past two-three days leading to school closures across states.

Last-minute notice by Kurukshetra University

According to the date-sheet issued by Kurukshetra University on May 5, second-year students of MAMC were scheduled to sit for the editing paper on Monday, July 10. The paper was scheduled to be held at 1:30 pm and students received the information about paper cancellation in the university's official WhatsApp group at 11:30 am. The university in its official notice dated July 10 has cited “heavy rainfall and waterlogging in some districts of Haryana” as reason for cancellation.

Several students had already reached their examination centres in different cities of Haryana before 11:30 am and others were on their way.

“The university should have communicated with us days before as the monsoon had hit parts of Haryana on July 6 itself. Was the controller of exams sleeping? Will he pay for our loss of time, money, energy and loss of pay at work?,” asked Priymvada Rana, a second-year MAMC student of Kurukshetra University.

“I am really angry and disappointed as they (university officials) are highly unprofessional. Kurukshetra University doesn’t care about their students. When the two of us went to the exam counsellor center, he said, “We won’t do anything for you guys,” It is disappointing,” said Mahima Goswami, another second year MAMC student of the university.

Financial Loss and fear of losing jobs

Students told Careers360 that they took leave from their respective employers. Five exams were scheduled from July 10 to 20. They said that their employers may not grant more leave and they will end up causing financial loss to themselves.

“I work in print media for a national daily in Hyderabad where taking even one day leave is difficult. I had booked my flight tickets from Hyderabad to Delhi taking 14 days off just for exams. The flights and my travel expenses to Kurukshetra cost me Rs 27,500. If exams do not happen as per original schedule I will lose out on my job if I ask for more leave,” said Rana.

Both Purnima Arora and Mahima Goswami left Delhi at 7 am to reach their examination centres in Kurukshetra. Together they spent Rs 12,000 to go to the examination centre and return to their temporary residence in the national capital. Both took 10 days leave from their organisations and now worried about their jobs.

“Either my organisation won’t allow me to take any more leaves or they will not pay me for at least 15 days,” said Arora.

Mohammad Shoib, who hails from Basti district in Uttar Pradesh came to Delhi via train and even after the heavy rain he somehow managed to reach the examination centre. “Due to last minute notice my money and efforts have gone in vain. I work in a TV Channel and I already have taken leave. I won't get it again if the university takes it later. I won't be able to appear for the exam so either I won't get the degree or lose the job,” he said.

The university officials did not respond to queries of Careers360. The university in its notice has said that the date-sheet of postponed examination will be released later. However, the schedule of the postponed examination is yet to be announced by the university.