Calcutta High Court Declines BJP MP Dilip Ghosh's Plea For Change In TET Exam Date Due To 'Bhagvad Gita Chanting' To Be Held On Same Day

The Calcutta High Court has recently declined a plea moved by Dilip Ghosh,  Member of Parliament, Vice President & State President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for postponing the date of the Teachers Eligibility Test (TET) exam to be held on 24th December 2023 in lieu of 'Bhagavad Gita chanting' program which would be held in Kolkata and attended by high-level dignitaries.

The plea was moved by Ghosh and another petitioner, a TET candidate who was desirous of attending the program, and sought for the exam date to be rescheduled since there would be anticipated traffic disruptions caused by the movement of highly placed dignitaries, which would affect the students in reaching the examination venue. 

In declining the prayer, a division bench of Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharya held:

"It is submitted that there are total 773 centres throughout the State of West Bengal and only 05 centres are in Kolkata and none of those 05 centres are in close proximity to the venue, where the programme is scheduled to be conducted on 24th December, 2023. Thus, in the given facts and circumstances, the direction sought for in the writ petition cannot be granted." 

It was argued by the petitioners that the event would be attended by several high-profile dignitaries, including the Prime Minister, which would lead to roads being blocked and the movement of the students being affected.

It was argued that the 2nd petitioner was desirous of attending the event as well as writing the TET exam, and as such prayed for the exam to be postponed. 

It was submitted by the State that the dates for the exam had been fixed by the appropriate authorities well in advance and the schedule had been notified to the candidates as well. 

It was argued that any last-minute changes would be highly detrimental to the participating students and that the event which was scheduled to be held in Maidan, Kolkata was not close to any of the venues of the TET exam. 

In considering the arguments, the bench dismissed the plea and held that it was for the WB Primary Education Board to decide the dates of the TET exam after considering all factors and that none of the TET centres was close to the venue of the program. 

The Court further directed the State and Police to ensure that the students were not disrupted in reaching the venue for the exam on the 24th of December and that the Transport Department ensure the availability of adequate transport facilities for the students upon production of their hall tickets so that they are not held up in the traffic jam.

Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Cal) 349

Case: Sri Dilip Ghosh @ Dilip Kumar Ghosh & Anr. Versus The State of West Bengal & Ors.

Case No: W.P.A.(P) 608 of 2023

Click here to read/download order