Bhubaneswar, Sept. 16: Authorities of Utkal University and a section of students, who had applied for postgraduate (PG) courses in yoga education, are engaged in a blame game over the eligibility criteria for admissions. While the students alleged that norms had been modified without prior notification, the authorities denied the charge.

Earlier, any graduate could apply for the post graduation diploma course in yoga education. However, students alleged other specifications such as, having ayurveda, naturopathy, philosophy, psychology and one language subject have been added from this year. “As a result, many applicants became ineligible for admissions,” said Priti Ranjan Das, a student.

“The information brochure says a PG diploma in yoga is a necessary qualification for admission into the degree course. To fill up seats in the degree course, students, who had taken admission in diploma with qualification in naturopathy and ayurveda, were elevated. This not only created confusion but was also a violation of norms on part of the university authorities,” said Pradipta Kumar Mallick, another student.

At present, five out of 24 seats in PG diploma and six out of the 16 seats in degree course are yet to filled up. Now, the students are demanding that they be allowed to join the course to cover up the vacancies.

On the other hand, the authorities explained that the agitating students had not applied for admissions within the stipulated date. “Since only 25 per cent seats had been filled up in the degree course, the qualification was relaxed. We had invited applications from graduates, who had an equivalent degree in a subject relevant to yoga therapy. But these students did not have the required qualifications,” said Radha Madhab Dash, head of Sanskrit department and course coordinator for the yoga courses.

Stating that the admission process for the yoga courses was completed on August 30, Dash said no more applications would be entertained even though a few seats would remain vacant. “We cannot bend the rules to fill up the remaining seats. This is not a private institution that we can conduct admissions at will. We are expected to follow the academic calendar. Admission is not in my hands,” he said.

PG council chairman P.K. Sarkar said the university had published advertisements twice to invite applications for the yoga courses. “If they were so keen to take admissions, they should have applied. We cannot advertise for the third time. It is beyond our powers,” said Sarkar.

Authorities of the Utkal University and a section of students, who had applied for postgraduate (PG) courses in yoga education, are engaged in a bout of recrimination over the eligibility criteria for admissions. While the students alleged that norms had been modified without prior notification, the authorities denied the charge.

Earlier, any graduate could apply for the post graduation diploma course in yoga education. However, students alleged other specifications such as, having ayurveda, naturopathy, philosophy, psychology and one language subject have been added from this year. “As a result, many applicants like me became ineligible for admissions,” said Priti Ranjan Das, a student.

“The information brochure says a PG diploma in yoga is a necessary qualification for admission into the degree course. To fill up seats in the degree course, students, who had taken admission in diploma with qualification in naturopathy and ayurveda, were elevated. This not only created confusion but was also a violation of norms on the part of the university authorities,” said Pradipta Kumar Mallick, another student.

At present, five out of 24 seats in PG diploma and six out of the 16 seats in degree course are yet to filled up. Now, the students are demanding that they be allowed to join the course to cover up the vacancies.

On the other hand, the authorities explained that the agitating students had not applied for admissions within the stipulated date. “Since only 25 per cent seats had been filled up in the degree course, the qualification was relaxed. We had invited applications from graduates, who had an equivalent degree in a subject relevant to yoga therapy. But these students did not have the required qualifications,” said Radha Madhab Dash, head of Sanskrit department and course coordinator for the yoga courses.

Stating that the admission process for the yoga courses was completed on August 30, Dash said no more applications would be entertained even though a few seats would remain vacant. “We cannot bend the rules to fill up the remaining seats. This is not a private institution that we can conduct admissions at will. We are expected to follow the academic calendar. Admission, by the way, is not in my hands,” he said.

The PG Council chairman, P.K. Sarkar said the university had published advertisements twice to invite applications for the yoga courses. “If they were so keen to take admissions, they should have applied then. We cannot advertise for the third time. It is beyond our powers,” Sarkar said.