Uttarakhand university cancels 2 exams after professor leaks question paper
Veer Madho Singh Bhandari Uttarakhand Technical University cancelled two B.Tech examinations after an assistant professor was accused of sharing questions with students before the tests. The case has surfaced amid CJP-led protest over NEET paper leak.
As protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) over the NEET paper leak continue at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, another paper leak has surfaced – this time in Uttarakhand. Veer Madho Singh Bhandari Uttarakhand Technical University (UTU) has cancelled two B.Tech third-year semester examinations after an assistant professor allegedly leaked questions before the exams by sharing them with students on WhatsApp.
The university has ordered an FIR in the matter, barred the accused professor, Ashish Kumar Gupta, from all examination-related work for seven years and announced that fresh examinations for the two subjects will be held in the third week of August. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami warned of strict action against those involved in the incident.
According to the university, the two B.Tech third-year semester examinations – Machine Learning for Internet of Things and Electromagnetic Field Theory – were conducted on July 7. However, an internal inquiry found that Gupta of Shivalik College of Engineering had allegedly shared questions related to the Machine Learning paper with students through a WhatsApp group and the college's internal portal before the examination.
The probe also found a breach of confidentiality in the Electromagnetic Field Theory question paper, prompting the university to cancel both examinations with immediate effect.
UTU Vice-Chancellor Tripta Thakur directed that an FIR be registered in the case and ordered a detailed inquiry into the incident. The university also issued a stern warning to Shivalik College of Engineering over what it described as lapses in maintaining examination confidentiality.
According to the FIR, the university received a whistleblower complaint via email alleging that the professor had shared "important questions" in a WhatsApp group around 11:34 pm on July 3, several of which allegedly matched questions that later appeared in the examination.
The university said it examined Gupta's mobile phone and WhatsApp chats as part of its investigation. Based on the available evidence, complaints and statements, the inquiry committee submitted its report on July 14, following which the university initiated disciplinary and legal action. Gupta belongs to Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur.
Police have also registered a case on a complaint filed by the university's Controller of Examinations.
Dehradun SP (City) Pramod Kumar said two committees had been constituted to probe allegations that the question papers were leaked before the examinations.
"The investigation found that Assistant Professor Ashish Kumar had allegedly shared questions similar to those in both examination papers before the exam to provide an undue advantage. A case has been registered on the complaint received from the university, and legal action is being taken," he said.
Reacting to the controversy, Chief Minister Dhami said no one involved in examination malpractice would be spared. "Whether it is a government recruitment examination or an examination conducted by a university or college, no one involved in cheating or paper leaks will be spared," he said.
The incident has triggered protests by the National Students' Union of India (NSUI), which termed the leak a threat to students' future and demanded strict action against those responsible, a fair investigation and safeguards for students affected by the cancellation of the examinations.
Uttarakhand Congress president Ganesh Godiyal also criticised the state government over the incident, holding state Education Minister Dhan Singh Rawat responsible and demanding the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter.
As protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) over the NEET paper leak continue at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, another paper leak has surfaced – this time in Uttarakhand. Veer Madho Singh Bhandari Uttarakhand Technical University (UTU) has cancelled two B.Tech third-year semester examinations after an assistant professor allegedly leaked questions before the exams by sharing them with students on WhatsApp.
The university has ordered an FIR in the matter, barred the accused professor, Ashish Kumar Gupta, from all examination-related work for seven years and announced that fresh examinations for the two subjects will be held in the third week of August. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami warned of strict action against those involved in the incident.
According to the university, the two B.Tech third-year semester examinations – Machine Learning for Internet of Things and Electromagnetic Field Theory – were conducted on July 7. However, an internal inquiry found that Gupta of Shivalik College of Engineering had allegedly shared questions related to the Machine Learning paper with students through a WhatsApp group and the college's internal portal before the examination.
The probe also found a breach of confidentiality in the Electromagnetic Field Theory question paper, prompting the university to cancel both examinations with immediate effect.
UTU Vice-Chancellor Tripta Thakur directed that an FIR be registered in the case and ordered a detailed inquiry into the incident. The university also issued a stern warning to Shivalik College of Engineering over what it described as lapses in maintaining examination confidentiality.
According to the FIR, the university received a whistleblower complaint via email alleging that the professor had shared "important questions" in a WhatsApp group around 11:34 pm on July 3, several of which allegedly matched questions that later appeared in the examination.
The university said it examined Gupta's mobile phone and WhatsApp chats as part of its investigation. Based on the available evidence, complaints and statements, the inquiry committee submitted its report on July 14, following which the university initiated disciplinary and legal action. Gupta belongs to Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur.
Police have also registered a case on a complaint filed by the university's Controller of Examinations.
Dehradun SP (City) Pramod Kumar said two committees had been constituted to probe allegations that the question papers were leaked before the examinations.
"The investigation found that Assistant Professor Ashish Kumar had allegedly shared questions similar to those in both examination papers before the exam to provide an undue advantage. A case has been registered on the complaint received from the university, and legal action is being taken," he said.
Reacting to the controversy, Chief Minister Dhami said no one involved in examination malpractice would be spared. "Whether it is a government recruitment examination or an examination conducted by a university or college, no one involved in cheating or paper leaks will be spared," he said.
The incident has triggered protests by the National Students' Union of India (NSUI), which termed the leak a threat to students' future and demanded strict action against those responsible, a fair investigation and safeguards for students affected by the cancellation of the examinations.
Uttarakhand Congress president Ganesh Godiyal also criticised the state government over the incident, holding state Education Minister Dhan Singh Rawat responsible and demanding the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter.
As protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) over the NEET paper leak continue at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, another paper leak has surfaced – this time in Uttarakhand. Veer Madho Singh Bhandari Uttarakhand Technical University (UTU) has cancelled two B.Tech third-year semester examinations after an assistant professor allegedly leaked questions before the exams by sharing them with students on WhatsApp.
The university has ordered an FIR in the matter, barred the accused professor, Ashish Kumar Gupta, from all examination-related work for seven years and announced that fresh examinations for the two subjects will be held in the third week of August. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami warned of strict action against those involved in the incident.
According to the university, the two B.Tech third-year semester examinations – Machine Learning for Internet of Things and Electromagnetic Field Theory – were conducted on July 7. However, an internal inquiry found that Gupta of Shivalik College of Engineering had allegedly shared questions related to the Machine Learning paper with students through a WhatsApp group and the college's internal portal before the examination.
The probe also found a breach of confidentiality in the Electromagnetic Field Theory question paper, prompting the university to cancel both examinations with immediate effect.
UTU Vice-Chancellor Tripta Thakur directed that an FIR be registered in the case and ordered a detailed inquiry into the incident. The university also issued a stern warning to Shivalik College of Engineering over what it described as lapses in maintaining examination confidentiality.
According to the FIR, the university received a whistleblower complaint via email alleging that the professor had shared "important questions" in a WhatsApp group around 11:34 pm on July 3, several of which allegedly matched questions that later appeared in the examination.
The university said it examined Gupta's mobile phone and WhatsApp chats as part of its investigation. Based on the available evidence, complaints and statements, the inquiry committee submitted its report on July 14, following which the university initiated disciplinary and legal action. Gupta belongs to Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur.
Police have also registered a case on a complaint filed by the university's Controller of Examinations.
Dehradun SP (City) Pramod Kumar said two committees had been constituted to probe allegations that the question papers were leaked before the examinations.
"The investigation found that Assistant Professor Ashish Kumar had allegedly shared questions similar to those in both examination papers before the exam to provide an undue advantage. A case has been registered on the complaint received from the university, and legal action is being taken," he said.
Reacting to the controversy, Chief Minister Dhami said no one involved in examination malpractice would be spared. "Whether it is a government recruitment examination or an examination conducted by a university or college, no one involved in cheating or paper leaks will be spared," he said.
The incident has triggered protests by the National Students' Union of India (NSUI), which termed the leak a threat to students' future and demanded strict action against those responsible, a fair investigation and safeguards for students affected by the cancellation of the examinations.
Uttarakhand Congress president Ganesh Godiyal also criticised the state government over the incident, holding state Education Minister Dhan Singh Rawat responsible and demanding the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter.
