Candidates appearing for the faculty recruitment at JNTU-Hyderabad refused to take the examination after they found answers marked by a pencil on the question paper.
The mathematics paper was being conducted on Wednesday for the 10 available posts, when many of the 130 candidates who appeared for the test noticed pencil marks next to the correct answers of questions. Alleging that the paper had been leaked, they boycotted the exam.
Candidates who walked out of the exam hall alleged that the question paper was sent outside and answers were marked and sent in again to help some candidates.
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A few student organisations too joined the protesting candidates, accusing the administration of deliberately leaking the paper, and said it reflected how the recruitment process was being conducted.
“The truth is now out and our earlier allegations of favouritism and illegal means being adopted stand vindicated,” said student leader Karunakar Reddy.
He alleged that question numbers 29, 39 and 41 were not marked for reasons known to them.
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However, JNTU authorities rejected the charges. Registrar N.V. Ramana Rao said the question paper is picked up two hours before examination by the Vice-Chancellor in presence of the Rector, Registrar and a few directors and sent for photocopying before its distribution in the exam hall. Moreover, the paper is picked randomly from six papers, two hours before the test.
“It was observed only during the examination that the question paper ‘setter’ had inadvertently put some mark next to the correct answers,” he said.
Test now on April 26He said the authorities had then decided to recall the question paper and provide a new one. “But some students protested and refused to take the examination despite several requests,” he said, adding that the exam will now be held on April 26 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.