By IANS,
Shimla : A reputed coaching institute here is under the scanner after its students secured the top 20 positions in the Combined Pre-medical Entrance Test conducted by Himachal Pradesh University last month.
Twenty-two students of Vidyapeeth Coaching Centre have secured merit in the test, in which over 6,000 students appeared. The entrance test result was declared May 31.
Alleging that the paper was leaked, the parents of some students who had appeared for the test complained to the authorities, demanding a probe. They alleged that some of the students of the coaching institute knew the question paper before-hand as some university lecturers were also part-time teachers in the institution.
Sensing trouble, the government Tuesday ordered a probe into the allegations.
Himachal Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal told IANS that an additional director general of police would conduct an inquiry into the matter.
He said the probe was ordered following reports regarding paper leak.
“We have ordered an inquiry into the allegations of the medical entrance test paper leak. It will also try to find out the involvement, if any, of the coaching institute in the paper leak. No erring official would be spared,” he said.
The complainants also expressed doubts about some students of the institute scoring 390 out of 400 marks in biology despite there being negative marking.
Roop Upadhayay, whose daughter had secured 92 percent marks in Class 12, said 22 candidates from a coaching centre making it to the entrance test indicated that there was a paper leak.
Director General of Police (Vigilance) D.S. Manhas said: “The police have started probe and collected some evidences and grilled the institute’s staff. The inquiry report will be submitted to the government soon.”
Coaching institute director Ramesh Kumar said: “It’s a good step (government ordering a probe)… we are cooperating with the government.”
He said 16 students of the institute cleared the entrance test last year.
“In the last three years, the pass percentage of the students in the medical test is increasing. In 2006, 13 students cleared the test, 15 passed in 2007 and 16 in 2008. It’s a baseless allegation,” he said.
Vice-chancellor of Himachal Pradesh University Sunil Gupta said: “The university has observed proper secrecy while conducting the test.”
A similar paper leak scam also came to light in 2006. On the direction of the state high court, the test was conducted again.