Jadavpur University (JU) has proposed conducting its own BTech admissions counselling process, aiming to prevent delays that impacted student admissions last year. The proposal has been submitted to the West Bengal government for approval. A decision is pending, leaving the implementation of the plan uncertain for the upcoming academic year.
University Seeks Separate Counselling
Last year, Jadavpur University faced significant issues with its admissions. Over 150 of its 1,308 BTech seats remained unfilled after the centralized counselling rounds. The university later organized its own counselling to fill these vacancies.
A senior professor confirmed that the faculty council of engineering and technology submitted the proposal. “We have submitted the proposal to the state government, but we are yet to receive a green signal,” the professor stated. This is not the first time JU has proposed this; a similar plan was made last year but did not materialize.
Reasons for the Proposal
University officials believe that conducting their own counselling will allow them to attract top-ranking students. These students often choose other institutions due to the extended delays in the centralized counselling process.
The dean of the faculty of engineering and technology at Jadavpur University, Parthapratim Biswas, highlighted the issue. He explained that the centralized counselling process, managed by the JEE board, often starts late. This delay causes meritorious students to miss admission opportunities and postpones the start of academic classes.
Impact of Last Year’s Delays
The centralized counselling process experienced substantial delays last year. This was primarily due to a legal dispute over OBC reservations in West Bengal. The Calcutta High Court questioned the validity of certain OBC classifications introduced after 2010. This legal uncertainty stalled the release of WBJEE results and the subsequent counselling.
This delay affected admissions at all public engineering institutions relying on WBJEE. Institutions like Jadavpur University, Government College of Engineering and Ceramic Technology, and Government College of Engineering and Leather Technology were impacted.
University officials anticipate that an earlier counselling process could ensure classes start on time. It could also help reduce the number of vacant seats within the institution.