The question paper of ‘Law and commercial practice’ of 5th semester BCom exam leaked in Sagar on Saturday.

The university authorities immediately postponed the exam. Mathematics paper of 5th semester BSc exam also leaked in Davangere on Tuesday. To avoid recurrence of such incidents, the university postponed the semester exams.

A three-member inquiry committee comprising Registrar Mr R J Joshi, Prof Made Gowda and Prof Javed has been constituted. The committee visited a few colleges in Sagar and Shimoga on Wednesday.

As question paper bundles at LB and SBS College in Sagar were allegedly found tampered, the college was under suspicion.

Principal of LB and SBS College Prof Surendranath has expressed dissatisfaction against the functioning of the committee. “On founding that the question papers were out, we informed university authorities about the same.

To hide their failure, the university officials are trying to fix us,” he said.

Prof Surendranath is not convinced about the impartiality of the committee as person who had opposed sanctioning of post graduation course to LB and SBS College figure in the committee.

Committee

The committee didn’t come with an open mind to the college to collect information regarding the irregularity, he said and informed that LB and SBS College is also contemplating of approaching Governor who is Chancellor, against the conspiracy to tarnish the image of the college.

The way in which university has handled the issue has been criticised from various quarters.

On the ill-fated Saturday and Monday when question papers leaked, neither the vice chancellor nor the registrar were at the campus. Kuvempu University private college lecturers’ association and some student outfits have demanded the university to hand over the probe to CoD.

Point of leakage may be individual or multiple. As preparing question papers involves various stages including formatting the question paper, approval from Board of Studies, printing, sealing and sending the sealed covers to colleges, it is difficult to identify the point of leakage.

Chief Superintendent of examination centre who is the Principal is solely responsible for leakage of question paper while no person in any other stage is answerable.

Private college lecturers’ association feel that principals can be easily made scape goats for lapses in other phases also.

Suspicion

The committee which visited the ‘suspected’ colleges on Wednesday lacked corum as a member was absent.

Seriousness of the committee members towards the issue is being questioned. Process of printing question papers is being out-sourced for private agencies and possibility of leakage at this point can’t be ruled out.

Leak through e-mail

Considering the rapid pace at which leaked question papers reached the students across Shimoga, Chitradurga, Davangere and Chikmagalur districts, suspicion is strong that question papers were e-mailed.

As the committee is not well-equipped to trace such lapses, need for probe from competent authority is strongly felt.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Vice Chancellor Prof B S Sherigar informed that “we have lodged a complaint with Bhadravati rural police against the irregularity. The committee has met Additional SP Siddaramappa and has sought his cooperation in the probe. The university will keep all options open. We have open-minded approach towards the issue. If need arises, considering the gravity of the situation we may hand over the probe to CoD or other competent authority,” he said.