52 students punished so far for cheating in 2023 Dec exams at PU

Chandigarh: About 52 students have been punished by Panjab University (PU) for engaging in unfair practices during the exams held in Dec 2023, it has been learnt. So far, the unfair means cases (UMC) committee has convened twice, resulting in at least 52 students facing disciplinary actions and being barred from university exams for two years in case of annual, and four sessions in case of biannual. There were around 124 cases of cheating this time, and meetings for the remaining ones will soon take place.As per the information, exams which saw the maximum cheating included BA part 1, English, and even laws. It is possibly because these are subjective-type exams, said an official. The common forms of cheating included the use of chits, mobile phones, and notes on hands. “Some students were found with an astonishing number of chits, sometimes as many as 60 to 70. To combat this issue, the university had formed flying squads to detect unfair means cases across colleges. These squads were responsible for catching the students in question,” another official said. This would probably be for the first that students have been barred from taking exams, a PU official said, adding that, “Presenting such an example is necessary. In fact, in exams, a comprehensive overhaul is needed. There are calls for reforms, including possibly introducing open book exams, which may reduce the temptation to cheat.” “We acted as per the rule,” Meenakshi Malhotra, one of the UMC committee chairpersons, said. What’s the punishmentIf during a university exam, candidates are found in malafide possession of any material such as paper, books or notes; or notes written on any part of the clothes, body, table, stationery, which are relevant to the subject, they will be disqualified from appearing in any exam for two years.Although some students face punishment every time under the rule, this is for the first time that the decision has led to campus protests from some parties, calling for revision of the rule. ABVP’s PU president Rajat Puri said, “The students must be given a proper chance to be heard in front of the authorities and the regulations must also be amended so that such decisions, which can destroy the entire career of students, are not be made,” he said. PUCSC general secretary Deepak Goyat said, “ It will potentially ruin their careers and future. These students could be made to take the particular exam again and reprimanded in other ways.” DUI Rumina Sethi said, “Representatives of these students have been advised to file a review plea to be considered by the competent authorities.”
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