KU seeks explanation from senior officials

Taking a stern view of the inordinate delay in the publication of examination results, the University of Kerala has decided to seek explanation from 13 senior officials for alleged lapses in fulfilling their responsibilities.

The Controller of Examinations, Joint Registrar in charge of the conduct of examinations, four Deputy Registrars and seven section officers were taken to task on the basis of an inquiry report that was placed before the Syndicate on Tuesday by a subcommittee convened by M. Sreekumar, which included M. Jeevanlal, B.S. Jyothi Kumar and A.A. Rahim.

The officials were found to have failed to ensure the timely conduct of valuation camps and the effective coordination of section offices. Among their findings, the subcommittee found that there had been a delay of seven months in constituting the valuation camps for the first semester CBCSS (choice-based credit and semester system) examinations. Lapses were also detected in the deployment of teachers for the camps, false numbering of answer sheets and their delivery to the respective valuation centres.

Official sources said that a ‘cold war’ existed among certain section offices. The failure of the higher officials concerned in resolving such issues had further compounded the problem. The future course of action will be decided at the next meeting of the Syndicate after obtaining the explanations from the erring officials.

Staff shuffle

In view of the situation, the Syndicate meeting, chaired by Vice Chancellor (in-charge) Gopinath Ravindran, has decided to undertake yet another round of staff shuffle by deploying employees, who are adept in various aspects of the examination process, to the examination wing. It was also decided to adopt necessary steps to ensure the declaration of final-year results of undergraduate courses before the second week of June.

The Controller of Examination has also been directed to expedite the pending revaluation of answer sheets and submit an action-taken report within 15 days.

The university will conduct a two-day workshop on May 2 and 3 to discuss measures for the revamping and modernisation of the examination wing. Academics and experts from various universities will take part in the programme.