The Uttarakhand Technical University found that a BTech question paper was allegedly shared via WhatsApp before the exam, prompting cancellation of two semester papers and disciplinary action against an assistant professor.
Photo : TN Innovations
The Uttarakhand Technical University (UTU) has cancelled two engineering exams after an investigation revealed that the question papers for two BTech semester examinations were leaked before the exam commenced.
As per the university, the paper leak is linked to Shivalik College of Engineering, Dehradun. A probe revealed that the question paper was allegedly circulated among students through WhatsApp and an online portal before the examination. Following the findings, UTU cancelled examinations for the two subjects and arrested the accused assistant professor. The accused professor has also been barred from all examination-related work for the next seven years.
The leak came to notice after the university received an email alleging that the BTech third-year, second-semester examination paper had been leaked. According to police, the questions had allegedly been shared on 3 July, several days before the examination held on 8 July. Upon receiveing the mail, the varsity immediately launched an investigation into the matter, which revealed that the question paper for ‘Machine Learning for Internet of Things’ was leaked before the examination and shared with students via WhatsApp and an online portal.
The university also grew suspicious of the ‘Electromagnetic Field Theory’ question paper. Although a leak could not be conclusively established, UTU cancelled the examination as a precautionary measure to maintain the integrity of the examination process.
On the basis of the inquiry conducted, the university has barred Assistant Professor Dr Ashish Kumar Gupta from all examination-related duties for seven years. It is also believed that the question paper only reached a few students, the university still decided to completely re-conduct the exam.
The cancelled exam has reportedly impacted students from 12 engineering institutions affiliated with UTU, including:
- Birla Institute of Applied Sciences, Bhimtal
- Tula’s Institute, Dehradun
- BTKIT, Dwarahat
- Roorkee Institute of Technology
- Shivalik College of Engineering
- Jayarambhai Patel Institute of Technology
- Maya Institute of Technology
- Baba Farid Institute of Technology
- THDC Institute of Hydropower Engineering & Technology, Tehri
- Nanhi Pari Seemant Engineering Institute, Pithoragarh
- Women’s Institute of Technology, Dehradun
- Institute of Technology, Gopeshwar
UTU has announced that fresh examinations for both subjects will be conducted in the third week of August. A revised examination schedule will be uploaded on the university’s official website.