Auto driver supervises TYBSc exams

This is the second cheating case which has come to light within a month. Some weeks ago Express Newsline had reported on the examination malpractice at the Siddharth College of Arts and Science.

In the latest case, the aggrieved parent wrote to the Pro-VC on Thursday. The confidential letter said, "On the first day of TYBSc exams on May 8, my daughter was shocked beyond words when the junior supervisor-in-charge forcibly snatched her answersheetand gave it to another student to copy in the exam hall."

He further stated that due to such blatant copying during the exams his daughter could not answer 30 marks worth of questions as she was waiting for her answer-book to be returned back once the other student had finished copying from it.

When Express Newsline spoke to the parent today, he alleged that an autorickshaw driver was doubling up as an examiner. "More horrifying was that on the second day of the exams when my daughter was still contemplating on how to complain to the authorities, a class supervisor lazily strolled by wearing the uniform of an auto driver and drove out in an autorickshaw after the exam paper concluded! How can the college authorities appoint an auto-driver as a supervisor?"

A few more students from Block number 206 have also vouched for this fact but, unlike this parent, were afraid to complain in writing to the university. "Some of the candidates could easily bribe the supervisors and water boys to allow them tocopy easily; but the situation improved a little after the first two papers when the lady supervisors at the college became more alert after receiving an oral complaint from some parents," the students revealed on condition of anonymity.

While Principal S V Panse of Sathaye college admitted on having received oral complaints, he was not aware of the letter written to the PVC. "I don’t think any of our non-teaching staff who were employed as supervisors could be indulging in examination malpractice as chief conductor was regularly checking on them after learning about the complaints," he said.He also denied having appointed any auto driver as supervisor for the exams. "We were almost simultaneously holding the university exams for TYBSc, MSc as well as for the Institute of Distance Education. Hence the load was more on us, especially since the science staff are officially on summer vacation. But we were very vigilant and also reprimanded a few candidates who were caught copying," defended theprincipal.

However, the concerned parent commented: "My daughter saw the supervisor ride an auto with her own eyes. She is still very shaken as she stands to lose 30 marks in paper-I."

Pro-VC Dr Chandra said this evening that he will only comment on the matter after he has read through the complaint. "However, the University Unfair Means Committee usually handles such cases," he added.