Cusat tweaks norms for transfer of B.Tech. students

keletons seem to be tumbling out of the Cochin University of Science and Technology’s ‘out-of-turn’ transfer cupboard involving B. Tech. students after investigations revealed major irregularities.

The Hindu had exposed the case through two reports filed on May 17 and 21 stating that rules were jumped and norms tweaked to transfer ineligible students from the varsity’s affiliated private engineering college to its own School of Engineering (SOE) in Thrikkakara and Cochin University College of Engineering, Kuttanad (Cucek ) and within SOE and Cucek.

Now, the varsity has admitted the violation in response to a Right to Information (RTI) application, when asked about the transfer of first –year B.Tech. students from a self-financing college in Cherthala to CUCEK in the academic year 2014-15 as part of the investigation into the nearly 120 such transfer made since 2011. “These students were not admitted through CAT [Common Admission Test)”, said the official reply. The first student was transferred to the Mechanical Branch in Cucek while the second got a seat in the IT branch.

Senior varsity officials said that no transfers should be allowed in the first year of study as per the existing rule. A close scrutiny of the file notes related to the admissions revealed another major lapse. The existing rules state that transfer of students from a college to another college is possible only for the higher semesters and it should be done strictly on the basis of the rank list and reservation norms. The vacancy position should also be intimated earlier by the authorities concerned giving all eligible students a chance to apply.

Interestingly, the ‘transfer file trail’ found that there was no mention anywhere on whether seats had remained vacant after completion of the allotment process for a popular course like Mechanical Engineering in Cucek. It also wilfully skipped a vital point on whether rules permitted the transfer of a first-year B.Tech. student. The officials also feigned ignorance about the need to mention that a transfer could be made only on the basis of the rank list published on the basis of the Common Admission Test (CAT).

Nearly 25 similar ‘requests’ for transfer were rejected over the last few weeks after

The Hindu reported the case, according to people close to the development.

No transfers should be allowed in the first year of study as per the existing rule, say officials.