Ranjana Diggikar | TNN | Updated: Dec 6, 2016, 07.23 AM IST
AURANGABAD: A number of candidates from Marathwada appearing for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-PG) here were shocked when the examination centre rejected their e-Aadhaar as identity proof.
The authorities at the Aurangabad NEET-PG exam centre said they were issued a directive by the National Board of Examinations (NBE), two days after the exams started, that e-Aadhaar would be considered invalid. TOI has a copy of the directive. When this reporter visited the examination centre, the notice board over there did not say anything about e-Aadhaar.
The NEET-PG, a qualifying-cum-ranking examination for admission to MD/MS/Post Graduate Diploma courses for 2017 admission session, which started on November 30, will continue till December 13.
Some students and their parents said how can e-Aadhaar be rejected when the Union government has endorsed its validity as proof of identity. They said that they were not even informed by the NBE that e-Aadhaar would be considered invalid.
Aurangabad has been allotted an exam centre at Pro Skills Consulting Pvt Ltd at the Beed bypass, near Renuka Mata Mandir, for student from Marathwada.
Abhishek Rapte, a Nanded student appearing for NEET-MD exam, said that it was a huge loss for his career as his two years' efforts were wasted. "The NBE had allowed me to appear for the DBM entrance exam in June 2016. The NEET-PG admit card issued by NBE did not mention that e-Aadhaar would be considered invalid," he said,
"Since I came all the way from Nanded, I had no chance to go back and get another identity proof. This apathetic attitude of the board has ruined my career," he said.
Komal Kagde-Takle of Aurangabad, who wanted to appear for the MDS exam, was also among those turned away from the exam centre for the same reason on December 3 because she produced the e-Aadhaar.
Komal's husband, Pandurang Takle, said "It is strange that the examination board did not give any specific instructions about e-Aadhaar. My wife has not yet received the hard copy of Aadhar card. The e-Aadhaar is digitally signed using certificate issued by NIC as per IT Act, 2000."
However, Pandurang Takle, who is appearing for the MD exam on December 13, has received an SMS about the identity proofs that will be accepted. "Only after receiving many complaints, the board sent an SMS to me stating that NEET-PG candidates should bring one of the following as ID proof: driving license, PAN card, original photo bearing Aadhaar card only (e-Aadhaar ID or computer print outs of Aadhar not accepted)."
He added: "My wife did not receive any such message from the board before the exam. I have shot a complaint letter to the PMO and demanded justice."
Nitin Naikwade of Nanded, who came to appear for the MD entrance exam on Monday, said his e-aadhar card was also rejected. "There were no such instructions by the board and I e-Aadhaar would be accepted," he said, adding that it is ridiculous as about 10 students hailing from different parts of the region were not allowed to appear for the exam for the same reason.
Amruta Loya, who had come all the way from Jalna, said she too had not received any instructions about the e-Aadhaar. She said that she pleaded with the exam co-ordinators to allow her to appear for the exams stating that her parents were on their way to Aurangabad from Jalna with other ID proofs. "However, by the time my parents reached the centre, the time to enter the examination hall was over and all efforts proved futile," she said with tears in her eyes.
Amruta's father Kailash Loya, who is a public prosecutor, said, "This is unfair. The students are harassed for no fault of theirs. We will drag the board to the court and seek justice." Takle also echoed his views.
"The centre received the directive from the board a couple of days after the exam commenced on November 30. On that particular day, we had to turn away a student with e-Aadhar mid-way of her exam," said Jagdish Wathar, NBE appraiser.
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What the govt circular says
* A Resident Portal will enable citizens to download their e-aadhaar from UIDAI website
* Common service centers in states will help citizens in providing e-aadhaar
* e-aadhaar is to be treated as a valid document that it has been digitally certified
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ALL ABOUT NEET-PG
Latest Comment
Is any one filing case? I am from tamilnadu and I was also rejected as I had only e aadhar card. If anyone has filed a petition please say. My number is 8015651159
Divakar Jose
NEET-PG is an eligibility-cum-ranking examination prescribed as the single entrance examination to various MD/MS and PG diploma courses as per section (10) of Indian Medical Council Act 1956.
No other entrance exam, either at state or institution level, will be valid for entry to MD/MS/PG diploma courses