School prevents Dalit students from writing exam in Punjab

Principal Pratibha, refuting the allegation, said, `The students were not barred from appearing in the exam. They had appeared in the exams but later they stopped coming to school on their own.`

Jalandhar: Three Dalit siblings were allegedly barred from appearing in the final examinations by a private school as their father failed to deposit their fees here.

Balwinder Singh, a driver, said he had requested the St Soldier School authorities to give him time till March 20 to pay the pending fees of last two months but they agreed to wait till March 10 and as he was unable to deposit it, his children were not allowed to appear in exams.

Singh said when he went to submit fees after March 10, the school management refused to accept it and told him that he will have to get his children enroled again.

Meanwhile, school Principal Pratibha, refuting the allegation, said, "The students were not barred from appearing in the exam. They had appeared in the examinations conducted before March 10 but later they stopped coming to school on their own."

District Magistrate K K Yadav said preventing students from appearing in exam is wrong and he will inquire about the incident. Efforts would be made to save the academic year of the three students.

Anil Chopra, Chairman of St Soldier group, said, "I am not aware of the incident. However, I will ask the school principal to organise special exams for the students."