Irani student suspected of taking home evaluated answer paper in collusion with university staff, bringing it back with correct answers before applying for revaluation

Examination goof-ups and malpractices seem to have become the norm at the University of Pune.

An Irani student allegedly took an answer paper home, put in correct answers and then gave it for revaluation. What's more, all this was allegedly done with the help of officials of the University.

The incident came to light after Khoshnud Nargis Abbas, a student of MSc Environmental Sciences, submitted his answer sheet for re-evaluation. A staff member of the exam department said Abbas had failed in 'Remote Sensing and GIS', for which he appeared last October.

"He had left a lot of pages blank in the answer sheet. As is the practice, the examiner struck off those pages with red ink to indicate the blank pages. Later, somehow the student got hold of the evaluated answer sheets in the subject he had failed. He took them home and wrote the answers from a textbook and got the papers replaced," said a staff member.

The student then applied for a re-evaluation. The alleged fraud came to light when the evaluating officer noticed something was wrong and refused to assess the paper. "The paper had gone for evaluation to Dr D C Meshram, senior reader from geology department. He had remarked the student could not write English correctly. This was evident from his earlier answers while the new answers looked like textbook material.

Besides, he noticed the faint red lines on the previously blank answer sheets and realised there was some foul play," the staffer said.

MiD DAY tried to contact Dr Meshram several times but he was not available for comment. However, Shivaji Ahire, controller of examinations, confirmed the incident and said an inquiry had been instituted.

"It's true an inquiry has been instituted in this regard. The student is suspected of committing a grave offence by replacing his answer sheets and also taking help from university officials. We are concerned because of the possible involvement of our staff members, but first the answer sheets of the student will be re-evaluated to establish he had cheated," said Ahire.