Scandal gets bigger, RTI reveals 400 answersheets have marking anomalies

THE marking scandal that rocked Maharshi Dayanand University at Rohtak last month, in which seven first year B Tech students, who failed in the Essentials of Communication subject, but passed with first divisions after re-evaluation, has got bigger with records, obtained through RTI, showing that more than 400 students benefitted from the re-evaluation.

While over 900 B Tech students, who failed in the exams, cleared after the re-evaluation, there is a stark difference in marks awarded, by the original examiner, the first and second re-evaluators, to at least 400 of the students.

In some cases, while the original examiner has awarded a zero, the student has ended up with 78 marks after the revaluation. Similarly, 7 has become 64; 22 has become 90 ....... and so on. (see box)

The anomalies in marking is not confined to a single subject with whopping differences showing up in the answer sheets of a variety of subjects including Physics, Basics of Electronics, Mathematics, Digital Electronics, Electrical Technology, Eletromechanical Energy Conservation and Discrete Structure or Engineering Mechanics.

What is common to most of the students, however, is that those who flunked in the first marking, managed to score more than double the original marks after the re-evaluation.

MDU authorities have already debarred 10 evaluators and re-evaluators, for 1-9 years (depending on the quantum of errors committed by the individual); who allegedly figured in the scandal and were indicted for erroneous markings. The University, however, has neither taken any action against the students, who benefited from the marking anomalies; nor has it decided to hold the examinations again.

The marking pertains to the first year B Tech examinations held by MDU in December, 2010. The results were declared in September, 2011 and students were given 15 days to apply for re-evaluation of their answersheets.

... contd.

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