Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 26: In a major decision aimed at curbing the menace of impersonation and cheating, the Chief Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) of Jammu and Kashmir today directed the Board of Professional Entrance Examinations (BOPEE) to videograph all entrance examinations for professional colleges by installing Close Circuit Television Sets (CCTVs) in the examination centres.
The CVC has also asked the BOPEE to explore the possibility of holding on-line examination for entrance tests at par with national level, where several examinations for professional courses are being conducted on-line.
CVC Kuldeep Khoda told the Excelsior that he has directed the BOPEE to hold videography of all entrance examinations for professional courses from the next session at all the Centres in Jammu and Srinagar, the two rotational capital cities of the State.
“The BOPEE has been issued a written communication to this effect,’’ he said, adding the similar directions have also been passed on Acharya Shri Chandra College of Medical Science (ASCOMS) and other private professional colleges, which were empowered to hold their own entrance examinations, to hold videography of complete examination and keep its record with them.
The Commission directive came following reports of impersonation, cheating and other influence and irregularities used in the examinations, which had led to cancelled of entire entrance exam this year causing enormous inconvenience to the candidates.
The BOPEE had initially cancelled one examination but subsequently all examinations had to be cancelled this year leading to more than a month’s delay in holding fresh exam and declaration of results due to which a number of students couldn’t take admissions outside the State.
“In the present days, most of the private offices and even shopkeepers have installed the CCTVs. Why can’t the BOPEE install the CCTVs in the examination centres for two days and hold videography of full examinations?’’ the CVC asked while making the holding videography of all entrance examinations for professional courses mandatory in future.
Apart from cancellation of entire entrance examination of professional courses this year, the impersonation in MBBS/BDS examination of ASCOMS, Sidhra had been reported in August 2010 in which the then Works Minister Ghulam Mohammad Saroori, a Congress MLA from Inderwal had lost his Ministry while veteran Congress leader Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed had to lose portfolio of Education Department due to irregularities conducted by his foster son in the BOSE examination.
The reports of cheating and impersonation in the examinations poured in quite often, sources said, adding that complete videography of the examinations would check all kind of malpractices in the examinations and lead to holding of free and fair exams.
“Even if some irregularities, cheating or impersonation take place that can be easily directed by any investigating agency using footage of the CCTVs,’’ sources said, adding this would go a long extent to curb any kind of malpractices in the examinations.
The Commission had reports that the BOPEE had been conducting videography of the examinations for just 10 to 15 minutes in the beginning. However, it has asked for videography of full examination for two days and preserving footage obtained through the CCTVs. It said since the examination centres for entrance tests to professional courses are made only in two capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar, the BOPEE wouldn’t have to face much problems in holding videography of the examinations to ensure free and fair exam.
“The CVC direction would be applicable to all examinations conducted by the BOPEE including entrance test for professional colleges, MD/MS etc and tests taken by the private colleges,’’ sources said, adding the direction was aimed at ensuring free and fair exam.
In another direction to the BOPEE, the CVC has asked it to explore the possibility of holding on-line examination of entrance tests at par with G-MAT, NIIT, All India Entrance Exam for MBBS etc.
“The BOPEE should explore such a possibility and make arrangements for holding on-line examinations of entrance tests in future, ‘’ the CVC said.
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