Too many reappear cases at PTU, Chief Secy orders probe

Deepkamal Kaur

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Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, March 5

Chief Secretary Sarvesh Kaushal today ordered an inquiry into an alleged scam pertaining to mass reappear/re-evaluation cases at Kapurthala-based IK Gujral Punjab Technical University (PTU).

The inquiry follows a demand notice issued to the Chief Secretary by Chandigarh-based lawyer HC Arora. Information obtained under the RTI Act had revealed that over 80 per cent of the BTech students were applying for re-evaluation or taking the reappear exams at IKG-PTU, whereas the percentage of similar cases stood at just 5 per cent in other universities. The RTI applications had been filed by an affected student, Navdeep Singh Kamboj, who first raised the matter on YouTube a few months ago.

Kaushal has told Vice Chancellor Rakesh Verma to submit a report during the governing body’s next meeting, the date of which is yet to be fixed.

In his notice, Arora had written, “The modus operandi of the university officials is: A large number of students appearing in various exams are shown as having failed in some of the subjects. They are tempted to fill application forms for reappear or re-evaluation. The students have to pay exam fee of Rs 700 for each subject… the university collects huge amounts… It is at this stage that the game of collecting bribe through middlemen starts. Those who pay the bribe are declared pass in reappear or re-evaluation.”

Quoting figures on the basis of Kamboj’s RTI applications, Arora said over 80 per cent of the students had filled forms for reappear or re-evaluation in May 2014, December 2015 and May 2016 examinations. In Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, the average number of examinees taking the reappear exams or applying for re-evaluation is just 2.8 and 4 per cent, respectively, he claimed.

“Such a scandal cannot take place without the patronage of top officials,” Arora added.

When contacted, the VC said, “Prima facie, it’s not a case of any racket. Students are not able to clear some exams even in three-four attempts. We are mulling exam reforms.”