AMU rescinds earlier decision to cancel MBBS/BDS entrance exam result.
By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
Aligarh: Thirty students out of 3,939 appearing qualified for the MBBS/BDS entrance exam in Kerala raised some eyebrows in Aligarh Muslim University (AMU). Percentage-wise that was just 0.76 % of all the students appearing at Farook College in Kozhikode but it was difficult to digest for some that only two other centres were able to get qualifying students in double digits.
But should the lack-luster performance at other centres be a criteria for punishing students of one centre? AMU Executive Council canceled the results of the exam on May 28 on the basis of the repot of preliminary enquiry which was nothing but the violation of law of average.
Controversy erupted enough. T P Ashrafail, Muslim Students Federation (MSF) state president, the students’ outfit of IUML, talking to Twocircles.net, alleged that the AMU officials, who belong to “North lobby”, were trying to tarnish the reputation of Malayali students by alleging that they have acquired the success in higher examination by copying the answers. These are the planned attempts by the northern lobby to destroy the Malappuram centre by raising baseless allegations, he alleged.
An enquiry committee consisting of Professor Faizan Mustafa, Professor Mohammad Mian, and Justice Imitiyaz Murtaza was setup which submitted its report on July 2 denying all allegations of “foul play” at the Kozhikode Centre.
The executive council of the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) on Monday announced to rescind the decision to cancel the MBBS/BDS entrance examination held on April 26, 2015.
“We are of the firm opinion that there was no foul play in the conduct of the affairs that happened at the Kozhikode Centre, Kerala in the MBBS/BDS entrance test 2015-16,” opined the report of the Enquiry Committee, headed by Justice Imtiyaz Murtaza, former judge, Allahabad High Court.
The Committee also made it clear that the allegations made by three teachers of the University against the Controller of Examinations were “infirm and unfounded” and are “rejected”. In fact, the report has highlighted how the bulk of successful candidates had secured exceedingly high percentage in their senior secondary examinations and most of them had also qualified for KEAM (Kerala Engineering and Medical Examination) entrance examination.
The May 28 decision to cancel the result of MBBS/BDS entrance examination was based on the findings of the preliminary inquiry committee, the University release claimed, which had “limited data and time available” and hence the AMU executive council rescinded that decision, AMU said.
Earlier, the AMU had set up a three member committee to conduct the preliminary enquiry into the matter under the chairmanship of Professor S N Pathan, representative of University Court in the executive council and former vice chancellor of RMT Nagpur University, Nagpur. The other two members were Professor E Hasnain, chief rector’s nominee in the executive council and former vice chancellor, University of Hyderabad, and Midhatullah Khan Sherwani, visitor’s nominee in the executive council and former civil servant.
Once the preliminary inquiry was over, the AMU appointed on June 2 a three member full-fledged enquiry committee, which had – apart from Justice Murtaza as its chairman – Professor Mohammad Mian, former vice chancellor, MANUU Hyderabad and Professor Faizan Mustafa, vice chancellor, NALSA Hyderabad as its members.
The members of the committee visited the Farook College, Kozhikode among all six centres in the city; took down written statements, visited the campus, held discussion with Principal Professor E P Imbichi Koya.
Important Findings:
The number of witnesses that deposed before the committee, all pointed out the normal procedure followed by various persons involved in conducting the examination at the Kozhikode centre. Most of them also supported the students appearing at that particular centre vis-à-vis their performance as majority of the students had scored excellent marks at their intermediate level and also at the similar entrance examination conducted by Kerala state government.
Incidentally, a former Controller of Examination pointed out – and the committee report mentions it – that the present Controller of Examination had digressed a little qua the procedure adopted by his predecessors. “The present Controller also adopted method of proper setting slightly different from the method employed by his predecessors. This again would not amount to digression from the prescribed procedure and there were no written guidelines or rules in vogue in the University,” the report pointed out.
The report also mentions of two submissions received by it in envelopes against the current Controller of Examination. The allegations against him ranged from his track record, alleged opposition by AMU teachers’ association to his appointment and his alleged breach of certain conduct. But the Enquiry Committee claimed that after cross-questioning the allegations “fall flat” and rejected those as being “infirm and unfounded.”
Enquiry Committee finally clears Kozhikode’s name
Asserting that there was “no illegality, irregularity, or foul play in the conduct of entrance test for admission to MBBS/BDS courses 2015-16,”, the report also suggested to the University management that since there was no misfeasance or foul play at the six centres at Kozhikode, it would be advisable on the part of the University to issue appreciation letter to the Principal of Farook College appreciating his steps and efforts in facilitating smooth and fair conduct of the entrance test at the Centre as this act on the part of the University would alleviate and sooth their hurt feelings.
“The University should formulate detailed guidelines and procedures for conduct of all the examinations which should be approved by the Executive Council and no one should be permitted to use his own discretion unless authorized by the Executive Council,” the report suggested.
Upon this committee’s suggestion, the AMU executive council has also decided that the standard operating procedure (SOP) for conduct of such examination be laid down and codified, Dr Rahat Abrar, AMU’s PRO said.
Related:
Enquiry set up by AMU over fear of discrepancies in MBBS test
AMU’s decision to cancel medical entrance examination draws flak
Enquiry committee hearing from June 11 in AMU’s MBBS entrance exam discrepancy