Panel to probe answer sheet misuse

Thiruvananthapuram: Confirming the genuineness of the answer booklets that police had seized early this week from the house of Sivarenjith, the prime accused in the sensational stabbing case on University College campus, the Kerala University syndicate here on Thursday appointed a three-member subcommittee to look into the misuse and pilferage of the booklets.
“By comparing the serial numbers in the answer booklets seized from the home of a student with that of the records in the university, we have come to a conclusion that the booklets were indeed the one and same that were distributed to University College between July 23, 2015 and April 1, 2016. The subcommittee has been appointed to look into all aspects of the pilferage of answer booklets, which the syndicate views very seriously,” syndicate member K H Babujan, one of the members of the sub-committee, told a news conference on Thursday.
K G Gopachandran and G Lalitha are the other members of the committee.
According to Babujan, the varsity was in possession of the details of answer booklets distributed to each of the affiliated colleges and strict action would be initiated against those responsible for the callous mismanagement of the booklets while they were under the custody of the college authorities. “Those who were in charge of the examinations during the above mentioned period will have to answer. Those who were responsible for the pilferage will be barred from examination-related duties in the future. The syndicate would also recommend to the state government for appropriate disciplinary action against the employees concerned,” he said.
In order to plug the hole, the university would insist that answer booklets should be kept under CCTV surveillance in all affiliated colleges. The syndicate has also resolved to set up an internal vigilance wing for carrying out probes into anomalies related to the conduct of examinations in 300 odd affiliated colleges under the university. The service of a police officer in the rank of SP would be sought from the state government for this purpose. The university would explore the possibility of introducing bar coded answer booklets in the future. The university would insist that affiliated colleges keep an accurate record of answer booklets and share the same with the university on a daily basis during examinations.
The newly-revamped syndicate has decided to seek strict action against Sivarenjith for forgery of university physical education director’s seal and the theft of varsity answer booklets. In view of the recent controversies, university would hold a meeting of college principals and examination superintendents on July 26.
Meanwhile, Kerala University vice-chancellor V P Mahadevan Pillai on Thursday submitted a report to Governor P Sathasivam on the pilferage of answer booklets and other incidents relating to the same. The governor had directed the VC to submit a report in this regard.