So I learnt that '0755' has a numerical value of decimal 755, whereas 0755 has a numerical value of octal 755. Worth knowing. And now I fixed my script and it does exactly what I want and I'm very happy. Thanks to eveyrone. 
#!/usr/bin/perl -w

use strict;
use CGI qw(:standard);

print
    header,
    start_html(
        -title=>'CHMOD UTILITY'
    );
&do_chmod if param;
&send_form;

sub 
do_chmod
{
    my $Perm;
    if (param('Action') eq 'Not Executable') {
        $Perm = 0644;
    }
    else {
        $Perm = 0755;
    }
    for (param('Dirs')) {
        my @files;
        push @files, $_ while <$_*.p*>;
        if (chmod $Perm, @files) {
            print "Changed permissions on " . join(" ; ",@files) . " t
+o " . $Perm . "<BR>";
        }
        else {
            print "Could not change perms on " . join(" ; ",@files) . 
+" to " . $Perm . "<BR>";
        }
    }
    print "DONE";
}

sub
send_form
{
    my @dirs;
    push @dirs, $_ while <../*/>;
    print 
        startform(
            -name=>'mainform',
            -method=>'POST',
            -action=>'chmod.pl',
        ),
        checkbox_group(
            'Dirs',
            [@dirs],
            [],
            1,
        ),
        submit(
            -name=>'Action',
            -value=>'Executable',
        ),
        submit(
            -name=>'Action',
            -value=>'Not Executable',
        ),
        endform,
        end_html;
}

[download]


§ George Sherston

In reply to Final Update: Re: Ongoing chmod lack of success by George_Sherston
in thread Ongoing chmod lack of success by George_Sherston

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