Mumbai varsity apologises for delay in paper theft probe

The University of Mumbai has tendered an unconditional apology for causing avoidable delay regarding inquiry into the theft of answer sheets of eight engineering students which is being probed by the Unfair Means Inquiry Committee. Mohan K Korappath reports.

The University of Mumbai has tendered an unconditional apology for causing avoidable delay regarding inquiry into the theft of answer sheets of eight engineering students which is being probed by the Unfair Means Inquiry Committee.

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The vacation bench of the Bombay high court has now asked the university to arrive at a decision over the grievances of three engineering students who have been debarred after their answer sheets were allegedly found with a temporary staff of the university.

According to the petitioners’ lawyer, Amruta Patil, the university on Friday admitted that there has been a delay and the committee had constituted two meetings after the matter came to court on May 22.

The court had earlier pulled up the university for dragging its feet, saying that it was “insensitive” for prolonging the matter even though a committee was constituted in September to inquire the issue.

An affidavit filed by DD Ghuge, deputy registrar, central assessment process cell, states, “Out of nearly 40,000 examinees, four university employees smuggled out the answer sheets of eight students due to some identification marks made by the students. This is subject to investigation by the UMIC”.