Candidates fear AIPMT may cast shadow on CPMT too

LUCKNOW: The connection between All India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT) and Combined Pre Medical Test (CPMT) is haunting medical aspirants who feel the latter may also be cancelled like the former. Giving weight to their fear is that the gang of cheaters arrested by the UP STF just before the CPMT exam has admitted to providing 40 solvers in the AIPMT exam.

"The connection between AIPMT and CPMT is quite strong. In fact, the AIPMT case was exposed after racketeers in UPCPMT were caught. How is it possible that one exam is cancelled while the related one remains clear," wondered Ashutosh Gupta, a candidate in Lucknow. Voicing similar sentiments, Radhika Singh said, "I have a strong gut feeling that CPMT may also face a similar fate as the nature of the crime associated with the two exams is more or less the same."

Radhika's perception is a distorted version of the reality. According to officials at UP STF, the AIPMT racket was disclosed after the exam while the one related to UPCPMT was revealed after the exam successfully started. Director general medical education, Dr B N Tripathi said, "The university and STF have both informed us of a copying incident that occurred after the exam had started. As per STF report the candidates involved in cheating were arrested."

Dr Tripathi also informed that medical education directorate would go ahead with its plan for counseling and allotment of seats. "Admission process for 85% of medical seats in the state filled through CPMT will be finalised as per schedule. Admission against the AIPMT quota would take place after result of re-examination is announced," he said.

Candidates, however, questioned the university's certainty stating that a petition regarding UP CPMT is pending in the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court which will be taken up for hearing on July 27. "What if the high court orders cancellation of the UP CPMT as well...the entire effort will go in vain," stated Shraddha Kumari who took the exam from Gorakhpur. To this, DG ME, said, "As of now, the high court has not given any directions to us. But whatever they say would be binding on us."