A Bangalore University (BU) Syndicate meeting on Wednesday decided not to recommend for a CID probe into various corruption charges leveled against the examination section of the university. A majority of the members, who supported Vice-Chancellor Dr N Prabhu Dev, rejected the proposal. Interestingly, the proposal was mooted by government-appointed Syndicate member D.S. Krishna. While the members appointed by the government supported the proposal, those in support of Dr. Prabhu Dev opposed it.
Mr Krishna revealed that how university authorities conducted two exams for a single class to help a few students, who are children of IAS and IPS officers, against the provisions of law. The University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering had conducted the two exams for BE final-semester (E&C, CS and Mechanical stream) students on June 8 and July 4. “According to the calendar of events published by BU, the exam was scheduled for July 4. But to help the children of some powerful officials, it was advanced to June 8. Only 17 students appeared for the exam that day. Later, it was held again on July 4,” he said.
The CID or Lokayukta should unearth who were responsible for the illegality,” he said.
At the meeting, he also waved the OMR sheets of 2009-10, signed by special officer (examination) section Mr. Jamal. “This is a clear example of malpractices committed at the exam section,” he alleged. Prof. K.V. Acharya, Jagadish Prakash, Zahida Mullah and Shrinivasiah, who are opposed to the V-C, supported the demand and moved a motion seeking a CID inquiry.
UVCE principal K.R.Venugopal has justified the decision. “The two exams were conducted to protect the interest of students who opt for higher education in institutes like IIM-A. To join these courses, the students must appear for the final-semester exam. There is nothing wrong in conducting the two exams and the decision was taken based on the request from students,” he said.