Minister to issue guidelines

MUMBAI, April 24: Jolted into action by the Express Newsline expose on rampant copying in examinations, the state department of higher education is preparing a circular detailing measures to plug the leakage of university answer-sheets and other forms of cheating during exams. The circular, to be released next week, would be sent to all universities in the state. A raid at Siddharth College of Arts and Science, Fort, by Minister of State for Education, Anil Deshmukh, yesterday had exposed a racket in which university supplements were being smuggled out of the exam halls.A confidential note in this regard was today sent to Mantralaya by the joint director of higher education, R R Pardeshi, for Deshmukh8217;s perusal.

It gave the details of the raid and said that the university authorities had been intimated about the same. 8220;I have told the Mumbai University vice-chancellor about the cheating and have instructed the examination officials at Siddharth College to keep a count of the supplements distributed to theTYBCom candidates,8221; Pardeshi wrote in his note.

Talking to this newspaper today, Deshmukh, said: 8220;I am mainly interested in keeping a count of university supplements, as is the practice in the HSC and SSC Board exams. The hall tickets should also be checked before the commencement of the exam, or else anybody can walk into an exam hall as if it is a fish market.8221;

Meanwhile, an eerie calm prevailed today at the TYBCom exams in Siddharth College. At the college entrance gate a notice said: 8220;Mobile phones are not allowed inside. Copying material will also not be allowed; and strict punitive action will be taken on any candidate found to be in possession of such material.8221;

The students were allowed inside only after 10.30 am and supervision was extremely tight, in sharp contrast to the lax attitude of the authorities yesterday.