BANGALORE: There are scores of instances of students not being permitted to appear for examinations for failure to follow procedures or submit applications on time. But, in a school in Davangere district, seven students of a residential school who submitted their applications and caste certificates well before the deadline are uncertain whether they will be allowed to take their examination.

The headmaster of their school allegedly failed to send their applications to the Karnataka State Secondary Examination Board (KSSEB). He later resigned. The applications forms and caste certificates of the seven students — of 10th standard, at SOTC (Siddavanahalli Obanaik Charitable Trust) Residential School at Bullapura village, Anagodu hobli, Davangere district — were reportedly found in an almirah by the new headmaster.

Although he sent the applications, the board "failed" to reply. Fearing that the students would not be allowed to take the examination, scheduled for March, he and the SOTC have petitioned the High Court seeking a direction to the KSSEB to permit them to do so.

The petitioners said that on December 26, 2005, they informed the board of the reason for the school not submitting the applications on time but there was no response. They said there were only seven students in 10th standard and they were from rural areas. Their parents were poor and illiterate. The students had submitted their applications to the headmaster for forwarding it to the board. He resigned in the first week of November 2005 and the new headmaster took charge two weeks later, they said.

The petitioners urged the court to direct the board to accept their representation and permit them to appear for the examination. J

ustice N.K. Patil ordered issue of notice and adjourned the case to February 21.

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