'AIIMS exam not to be cancelled'

The Supreme Court on Monday declined to accept the government's suggestion for cancellation of the All India Entrance Test for admission to postgraduate courses at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences.

The Supreme Court on Monday declined to accept the government's suggestion for cancellation of the All India Entrance Test for admission to postgraduate courses at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

A bench, comprising Justice KG Balakrishnan and Justice PP Naolekar, however, permitted the Central government to file a status report to satisfy the court whether unfair means were used by the candidates during the entrance exam for medical sciences.

The court, while adjourning the matter till April 13, allowed the CBI to continue with the investigation in the copying racket. Additional Solicitor General Gopal Subramaniam, appearing for the government, said, “The government consulted Director, AIIMS, and other senior members of the faculty who were of the opinion that the entire exam ought to be cancelled."

Subramaniam also told the court that the examination was being rescheduled and the admission process may be completed by July 31. Counsel Arun Jaitley, appearing for the 12 doctors opposed the cancellation of exam saying that only 22 candidates out of 36,945 were found using unfair means and on its basis, the entire exam can not be cancelled.

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SMART BOX
Case history
• Electronic devices called Docupen capable of scanning question paper and
transmitting it to anybody outside the exam centre through mobile phones
were used to cheat
• Answers sent back on the mobile had allegedly helped the candidates in writing
the correct answers
• CBI to investigate, a case under section 120 B (criminal conspiracy) and
section 420 (cheating) registered