VTU to hold re-examination as paper leaks 

Technological University to hold re-examination as paper leaks 
Courtesy: Express News Service | 23rd June 2018

BENGALURU: The authorities of Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) Belagavi are in trouble again as the examination conducted for 4th semester civil engineering paper on Friday had been leaked a day before the exams, it was discovered on Saturday.

It came to light a day after the examinations were held across the state and after verifying the question paper circulated on social media, VTU authorities announced cancellation of the exams conducted for 4th semester civil engineering (Structures determinate paper) on Friday. However, the dates for re-examination of the same are yet to be announced.

According to official information available from VTU, the information about the paper leak was received by authorities on Friday late in the night and the authorities concerned started verifying the leaked paper and the original question paper given to students, they realised both the contents were same.

During the verification, university officials realised that the paper was leaked by one of the senior professors of a private engineering college located at Belagavi region who was assigned the job of setting up the question paper. "When verified we got to know that a professor from a private college affiliated to us circulated the paper. Following this confirmation, we have decided to conduct re-examination for that particular paper," said Prof HN Jagannath Reddy registrar of VTU, told The New Indian Express.

Meanwhile, university has communicated to the concerned college to suspend that professor who is accused of leaking the question paper till further communication from the university. "We are even verifying the involvement of people from the university, because it is impossible for the paper setter to know that the paper set by him has been selected for the exams," mentioned Registrar.

Process of paper setting:

In VTU, the paper setting process is little different. As the paper needs to be set for various subjects, VTU selects 10 experienced professors from different engineering colleges across the state and assigns them the job. They will all sit at the place where they are working, set the paper and send it to university by post. Finally of the 10 papers, university will choose one and the information about whose paper is selected will not be revealed.

According to sources, in this case of paper leak of Friday's exams would only be possible with the involvement of university staff and the inquiry is going on.

Highlights

- Examination was held on Friday

- Paper circulated on WhatsApp on Thursday around 1.30pm, a day before the exams

- Though students alerted, several principals ignored as similar incident occurred last week which was later confirmed as fake

- After verifying the original question paper and circulated one after the exams, principals were shocked and sent the same to registrar of VTU

- Cross verifying the same, university authorities confirmed involvement of a senior professor of a private college

- After inquiring the professor and prima facie proved his involvement university ordered for his suspension