Srinagar, June 22: While the shutdowns and curfew-like restrictions have paralysed normal life in Srinagar for the past three days, some officials at the Board of Professional Entrance Examinations have allegedly been charging “late fee” from candidates for their “failure to collect admission cards in time” that too without issuing any receipts.
The aspirants for Medical and Engineering entrance examinations said they were asked to collect the admission cards or roll number slips from the BOPEE office as per serial number of their cards.
“The candidates who were scheduled to collect cards couldn’t reach the BOPEE office in view of the prevailing situation. How could we reach the Board office when there was strike and an undeclared curfew in city,” the candidates questioned.
They said when they approached the BOPEE office they were asked to pay Rs 200 as “late fee for failure to collect admission cards in time.”
“What is more surprising is that they don’t issue any receipt for the amount charged. They are filling their own pockets and duping candidates by taking undue advantage of the circumstances,” a candidate, wishing not to be named, told Greater Kashmir.
On Tuesday, scores of candidates thronged the BOPEE office as the examinationa are nearing. The entrance examination for medical, engineering and various other streams are scheduled on June 26 and 27.
Secretary, BOPEE, Amar Singh said that no late fee was charged from any candidates. “We know that candidates couldn’t collect cards due to strike and shutdown. We are exempting them and no late fee is being charged from any one,” he said, adding around 400 cards were still lying with BOPEE.
Asked the candidates were charged late fee without receipts being issued, he said, “We don’t accept cash, we only accept drafts.”
Pertinently, the examination form costs Rs 1, 000 and is inclusive of all charges.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 22 Jun 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 22 Jun 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 23 Jun 2010 00:00:00 IST