Calcutta High Court Refuses To Change The Date Of Teacher Eligibility Test On December 24 (image: calcuttahighcourt.gov.in)

The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday refused the appeal requesting change of date of a Teachers” Eligibility Test (TET) in West Bengal scheduled on December 24 as it coincides with the Bhagavad Gita chant programme, “Ek Lakh Gita Path” which is scheduled to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The two Public Interest Litigations (PILs) were moved with the prayer, one by BJP MP Dilip Ghosh and another by an examinee.

The counsels for BJP MP and an examinee appealed that the date for the TET be changed as the Gita chant programme is to be conducted at the Brigade Parade Ground in the heart of the city,  will be attended the PM Modi, therefore, it will result in large conflux of people. The BJP has claimed that various religious groups have come together to organise the huge event, and it will be an apolitical programme.

Since their request cannot be granted, a division bench presided by Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam stated that concerned authorities from the state government and the Kolkata Police will make sure that the examinees are not disturbed from reaching the five centres in any case. The court said that before fixing a date for the examination it is for the West Bengal Board of Primary Education, academicians and administrative authorities to consider all factors. The bench, also including Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya, administered the state”s Transport department to organise adequate transport facilities to the examinees upon production of their admit cards.

One petitioner”s counsel argued that the TET examination was earlier fixed on December 10 and it was suddenly postponed to December 24, when the Bhagavad Gita path programme is scheduled. For requesting a change of date of the examination, counsel submitted that since large number of people are likely to attend the Gita chanting programme, traffic disruptions may happen and it may pose the convenience of the examinees.

The counsel representing the West Bengal Board of Primary Education, which is conducting the TET examination, on a query raised by the Chief Justice submitted that there will be 773 examination centres across West Bengal, and only five centres are located in Kolkata. Moreover, these five centres are situated away from the Maidan, where the programme is to be conducted, it added.

(With inputs from PTI)