Exams cancelled; Punjab technical education department busted mass copying scam
Kanwar Inder Singh/royalpatiala.in/ Patiala
Technical education and Industrial Training department of Punjab Government has busted a mass copying scam during investigation of cheating case in Pharmacy Colleges of Lehragaga and due process has been initiated to cancel the affiliations of colleges concerned. Orders have also been issued to charge-sheet flying squad in-charge Principal Government Poly-technical College Bareta Navneet Walia and Section Officer Anil Kumar.
Technical education minister Charanjit Singh Channi said that anybody found indulged in cheating scam will not be spared and strict action will be taken against institution concerned.
While divulging details, Principal Secretary technical education Anurag Verma said that in view of seriousness of the matter, a detailed report has been sought from secretary Punjab State Technical Education and Industrial Training Board and a report has also been sought from Principal Government Polytechnic College (girls) Patiala as papers of these seven colleges were sent there for evaluation. He added that during investigation of the matter, the officials found that the answer copies of all the students of offline examination were matching word to word and some online solved papers were also matching to some extent. He said that all the students opted to answer same questions during exam.
Anurag Verma said that both the reports clearly mentioned that examinations held in September/October, mass copying was done in seven colleges; Vinayka College of Pharmacy Lehragaga, Arya Bhatta College of Pharmacy Sangrur, Modern College of Pharmacy Sangrur, Vidya Sagar Paramedical College Lehragaga, Maharaja Aggarsain Institute of Pharmacy Lehragaga, Lord Krishna College of Pharmacy Lehragaga and Krishna College of Pharmacy, Lehragaga. He added that the technical education board officials have been directed to issue show cause notices to these seven colleges within a week to cancel their affiliation.
Verma said that the examinations of these colleges will also be cancelled and directions have been issued to conduct reexaminations of the concerned students. He added that now during reexaminations, the invigilating staff will be deputed from government ITIs and examination centers will also be formed in government polytechnic colleges/ITIs. He said that CCTVs will also be installed in examination centers and recordings will be kept in record.
November 23,2020
