PU to relax rules for unfair means cases, provision of 2-yr ban likely to be changed

Tribune News Service

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Chandigarh, August 24

The rules and regulations related to cases of using unfair means in examinations are set to be changed by the Panjab University. According to Vice-Chancellor Renu Vig, the regulation committee of the university which deals in the regulations framed for various purposes is already working on to ease the rules, especially the one where a student gets barred from appearing for exams for two years.

Talking to The Tribune, the VC said, “The provision of barring a student for two years was framed when the university had an annual system. Now, we follow semester system and the provision is not in sync with it.”

Chairman of the regulation committee Jagwant Singh said the entire set of punishment and process after a student was nabbed in unfair means case (UMC) was under review. “This is being done in the interest of the students and the university. Barring a student for two years if he/she is found in possession of cheating material in examination is a very harsh provision. It is very unlikely that the said student will return to studies after two years,” said Jagwant Singh.

It is important to mention that according to the current rules of PU, if during a university examination a candidate is found in mala fide possession of any material such as (1) paper, books or notes; or (2) written notes on any part of the clothes worn by the candidate or on any part of his body or table or desk; or (3) foot-rule and instruments like set-squares, protractors, slide rules, etc. with notes written on them; which is relevant to the subject of the examination, he/she shall be disqualified from appearing in any university examination for two years, including that in which he/she is found guilty, if he/she is a candidate for any examination held once a year or for four examinations, including that in which he/she is found guilty, if he/she is a candidate for an examination held twice a year.

There are two UMC committees formed comprising of three members each. According to a provision, the punishment awarded to a student in case of using unfair means in examination gets reviewed by the same committee, if the need arises. However, after the amendment, the provision will be tweaked. In case when the need of a review would arise, both committees would get together (six members) and they would be accompanied by another member nominated by the VC.

On April 18, some student leaders had written to the VC over disciplinary action against 124 students under the UMC regulations. The students were banned for two years from appearing in examinations. They had demanded reconstitution of a review committee and to be allowed to resume their classes and education. The VC had constituted a six-member committee to look into the demands of these students.