HAL’s exam norms nix dreams of 50 aspirants

Vijayalakshmi, a BE (mechanical) student from Gadag, had attended coaching classes for 45 days and burnt the midnight oil for the last few months to realise her dream of getting a job at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Bangalore. However, her dreams were shattered on Thursday when she was not allowed to attend the online test for the selection of management trainees for not bringing valid documents.

She was one of around 50 prospective candidates for the management trainees of HAL who were denied of entry for appearing in the online test at SAN IT Solutions Pvt Ltd, Jayanagar. Her mistake was not having any of original identity cards required to prove her identity before the invigilator.

As per the general instructions for appearing for the online test, the candidates have to produce the admit card and an original identity card with their photograph & date of birth i.e., passport, voter’s ID card, driving licence, PAN card.

“I am from an economically backward family. My parents are agriculturists. Being a student, I had no opportunity to register myself as a voter. I had no income and there was no need for me to have a PAN card. Since I could not afford to own a two-wheeler, I did not evince interest in availing of a driving licence. I have produced my marks card that has my date of birth and photograph. I had even produced the ID card issued by my college. I do not know why I was denied entry,’’ she said, her eyes welling with tears.

Each of the candidates paid `500 as fee for attending the online test and spent thousands of rupees to attend the coaching classes. “I was very happy and confident while preparing for the online test. I was confident of passing the test with flying colours, but my dreams were shattered when the invigilator did not allow me for being two minutes late,’’ said Narasimha Murthy MG from Magadi.

Mahesh P (name changed) from Hosakerehalli wanted to help his father who has been working as a linesman with the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company by joining HAL. But his ambition remain one when he was denied of entry for failing to bring the original identity card. “I brought the copy of a scanned version of my driving licence. I had no problem when I had attended a written test conducted by a public sector company. Why are there different sets of rules for different PSUs?’’ asked Mahesh.

It was learnt that around 20 prospective candidates were denied entry on Wednesday on similar grounds. On Thursday, the candidates were seen begging and pleading with the invigilators to allow them to attend the online test, but in vain. “We are merely following the rules and regulations stipulated by HAL. We are a service provider and have nothing to do with the plight of candidates.We have no problems if HAL decides to allow them to attend the test,’’ said Siddesh Loni, Director, SAN IT Solutions Pvt Ltd.

While Syed Hussain, chief manager, human resources, HAL was not available for comment, Gopal Sutur, spokesperson of HAL defended the denial of entry for candidates. “We sent a communication to all the candidates that producing original identity card (passport, voter’s ID card, driving license, PAN card) is must to attend the online test. We cannot bend rules just for the sake of a few who could not produce the original identity card,’’ said Sutur.

When brought to his notice about the Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ONGC) allowing the candidates to attend the test by producing ID cards issued by the respective collages or marks cards that have the details of date of birth and photograph, Sutur said: “We have our own rules, and they have their own rules’’.