DVAC to examine students in revaluation marks scam
CHENNAI, AUGUST 03, 2018 00:00 IST
At the epicentre:Investigators perused at least 75 answer scripts of Anna University students.
Will probe printing of marksheets disproportionate to need
The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) will examine engineering students who reportedly benefited in the alleged revaluation marks scandal that has rocked Anna University.
After perusing at least 75 answer scripts in which the marks awarded in the third revaluation were found to be grossly disproportionate to the original score, investigators have decided to record the statements of students in the sensational bribery case involving academicians of the varsity, including its former Controller of Examinations G.V. Uma, sources in the agency said.
Pattern studied
“We studied the pattern of pass or enhanced marks that were given to students in April/May 2017. There is clear suspicion since students who scored single-digit marks in the first valuation were awarded 10 times more in the third valuation. Thousands of answer scripts that were forged by the suspects to favour students were destroyed,” a DVAC official said. After establishing the prime facie offence, the DVAC registered a case of criminal misconduct, forgery, cheating and conspiracy against 10 professors/assistant professors.
No student named so far
“We have not named any student as accused so far. Preliminary investigation revealed that the students paid Rs. 10,000 for boosting marks in the revaluation process. Investigating officers will also examine evaluators who were debarred for not cooperating with the suspects.”
Another scam
Meanwhile, another scam relating to the printing of empty mark statements over and above the requirement has surfaced in the university. The Department of Higher Education has formally lodged a complaint with the DVAC since the alleged scam involves several crores of rupees. The University varies its grading system with each regulation and the marksheets reflect the variations.
The allegation is that a work order was placed to print empty marksheets much more than the actual requirement. “Instead of printing the marksheets for one academic year, the order was given to stock the empty statements for at least nine academic years. This would be a waste since the grading, format, etc is bound to change...this has caused a huge loss to the State exchequer. A formal complaint has been lodged with the DVAC for appropriate action,” a senior official in the Department of Higher Education said on Thursday.
A source at the university said there was no need to print in such huge quantities as regulations change and the university had shifted to choice-based credit system. The scam itself was exposed after a petition was received by the higher education department several months ago. When contacted, University Vice-Chancellor M.K. Surappa said, “If people are guilty, I will certainly take action against them.”
(Inputs from R. Sujatha)
CHENNAI, AUGUST 03, 2018 00:00 IST
At the epicentre:Investigators perused at least 75 answer scripts of Anna University students.
Will probe printing of marksheets disproportionate to need
The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) will examine engineering students who reportedly benefited in the alleged revaluation marks scandal that has rocked Anna University.
After perusing at least 75 answer scripts in which the marks awarded in the third revaluation were found to be grossly disproportionate to the original score, investigators have decided to record the statements of students in the sensational bribery case involving academicians of the varsity, including its former Controller of Examinations G.V. Uma, sources in the agency said.
Pattern studied
“We studied the pattern of pass or enhanced marks that were given to students in April/May 2017. There is clear suspicion since students who scored single-digit marks in the first valuation were awarded 10 times more in the third valuation. Thousands of answer scripts that were forged by the suspects to favour students were destroyed,” a DVAC official said. After establishing the prime facie offence, the DVAC registered a case of criminal misconduct, forgery, cheating and conspiracy against 10 professors/assistant professors.
No student named so far
“We have not named any student as accused so far. Preliminary investigation revealed that the students paid Rs. 10,000 for boosting marks in the revaluation process. Investigating officers will also examine evaluators who were debarred for not cooperating with the suspects.”
Another scam
Meanwhile, another scam relating to the printing of empty mark statements over and above the requirement has surfaced in the university. The Department of Higher Education has formally lodged a complaint with the DVAC since the alleged scam involves several crores of rupees. The University varies its grading system with each regulation and the marksheets reflect the variations.
The allegation is that a work order was placed to print empty marksheets much more than the actual requirement. “Instead of printing the marksheets for one academic year, the order was given to stock the empty statements for at least nine academic years. This would be a waste since the grading, format, etc is bound to change...this has caused a huge loss to the State exchequer. A formal complaint has been lodged with the DVAC for appropriate action,” a senior official in the Department of Higher Education said on Thursday.
A source at the university said there was no need to print in such huge quantities as regulations change and the university had shifted to choice-based credit system. The scam itself was exposed after a petition was received by the higher education department several months ago. When contacted, University Vice-Chancellor M.K. Surappa said, “If people are guilty, I will certainly take action against them.”
(Inputs from R. Sujatha)
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