Marks scam: Probe against 3 JJ teachers

MUMBAI, November 6: An inquiry has been ordered against one professor and two lecturers of the anatomy department of JJ Hospital, following ...

MUMBAI, November 6: An inquiry has been ordered against one professor and two lecturers of the anatomy department of JJ Hospital, following allegations that they had demanded money from first-year students for giving them good marks.

According to hospital sources, last week a series of posters mysteriously appeared near the dean8217;s office and at the Out Patients Department OPD. Serious allegations were made against Dr K A Rangari, professor and head of anatomy department and two lecturers, Dr A I Rana and Dr S Rao, in these posters. Some of these posters said: 8220;Hi friends! Not prepared for exams? Doesn8217;t matter. Want marks? Contact Dr Rangari or Dr Rana. Hurry! offer lasts till October 31.8221; Another poster said 8220;Sale! Sale ! Sold! The anatomy department is sold in Grant Medical College at the following rates: A Those who have never attended lectures 8212; Rs 8000. B Those who attended lectures 8212; Rs 5,000. C University anatomy paper-I 8212; Rs 15,000. D University anatomy paper-II 8212; Rs 15,000. A thirdposter said: 8220;There is very good news for first-year MBBS students in GMC who want to score good marks. Marks are being sold in the anatomy department. For more details contact Dr Rangari or Dr Rao.8221;

Taking cognisance of these posters, the dean, Dr A C Mohanty, set up an inquiry committee comprising Dr R G Bhusale, professor and head of department of forensic medicine, Dr A D Rathod, professor of paedriatics and Dr S A Patwardhan, professor of anatomy. The inquiry, sources said, is almost complete and the findings will shortly be sent to the Bombay University for further action.

Though Dr Mohanty refused to divulge details of the report, he explained that if any of the three teachers were found guilty, the university would be well within its rights to debar them from taking up examining duties. The report will also be sent to the Directorate of Medical Education and Research for administrative action, he added.

Hospital sources said anatomy is a first-year subject and 40 marks are earmarked forpractical examination which is conducted by the department. These marks are crucial since they are counted along with marks scored inthe final exams conducted by the university. Since the exams for this batch of 217 students are on, the inquiry committee has not taken their statements, sources said. But the committee has seen the performance records of students in anatomy and several discrepancies have been found. The dean explained that if the allegations were found to be true, the marks scored for this year will be held invalid and students will have to appear afresh for practicals.