The Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry has asked Guru Ghasidas Central University in Chhattisgarh not to conduct examinations for under graduate and post graduate courses for private candidates for the current academic session.
HRD Minister Kapil Sibal has written to Chief Minister Raman Singh explaining that there was an acute shortage of faculty and staff in State government colleges affiliated to the Central University, and this would seriously hamper the conduct of the examinations. “You would agree that lack of adequate invigilation staff would encourage use of unfair means bringing the examination process into disrepute and detracting from the credibility of the qualifications being awarded by the university.”
Though the exact number of private candidates — not registered with any affiliated college — expected to write the examinations is not known it was likely to cross the 40,000 figure.
Guru Ghasidas University at Bilaspur was upgraded to a Central University in 2009 and an interim arrangement had been made to conduct tests for private students. However, last year the academic council decided not to hold examinations for private candidates following an acute shortage of staff and infrastructure.
Delegation meets Sibal
However, closer to the examination time, the university came under intense pressure from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress to conduct examinations for under graduate and post graduate courses for private candidates. A delegation of students met Mr. Sibal here following which he called the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Lakshman Chaturvedi, to Delhi.
