VNSGU blunder: Who will pay?

SURAT: The goof-up by the officials in the first semester examination of Master of Arts in Gujarati is not the lone case in Veer Narmad South Gujarat University (VNSGU). Question paper bags had been opened at a few other centres too before the scheduled date of the examination last year. However, the ‘mistakes’ were covered up.
University sources said that a supervisor and officers on examination duty too had distributed wrong question paper at another centre.They collected the question papers and put them back in the paper bag on realizing their mistake. The question paper was later distributed on the day of examination to the students.
However, university officers refuse to accept this. “Except for the goof-up during the MA Gujarati examination, no other case has come to my knowledge wherein the question paper bag may have been opened by mistake. If something of this kind is brought to my notice, necessary action will be taken in the matter,” VNSGU vice-chancellor Dakshesh Thakar said.
The goof-up by the officials during the MA Gujarati first semester examination was brought to the notice of university officials by TOI. However, no action has been taken so far against those responsible. “The university did not carry out any investigation in the matter. Where is the question of taking action against anyone? Such things are kept under wraps,” said a faculty at a city college.
Such blunders cost several lakhs of rupees to the university. Printing, transportation, allowances to staff and valuable time of university officers are lost in the process. The university has to get a new question paper made and ensure it reaches all the centres in south Gujarat before the scheduled examination time.
“The university plans to take strict action against those who commit such mistakes. We plan to collect the expenses incurred from the officer who commits such mistakes,” Thakar said.
A committee has been set up by the university to suggest punitive action. Its report will be tabled before the syndicate for approval.