SC declines Govt's suggestion for cancellation of AIIMS exam

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

New Delhi, Apr 3 (UNI) The Supreme Court today declined the government's suggestion for cancellation of All India Entrance Test for admission to Post Graduate courses at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

A bench, comprising Mr Justice K G Balakrishnan and Mr Justice P P Naolekar, however, permitted the centre 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 through electronic devices called 'Docupen' which are capable of scanning the entire question paper and transmitting it to anybody outside the centre through mobile phones. Answers sent back on the mobile had allegedly helped the candidates in writing the correct answers.

Additional Solicitor General Gopal Subramaniam, appearing for the centre, submitted, ''Initially, we got some complaints of use of unfair means and referred the matter to CBI for investigation and in view of sufficient material collected by the CBI showing unfair means by candidates mainly in Chennai and Delhi centres which is going to affect a large number of students, the government consulted Director AIIMS, professor Venugopal and other Senior members of the faculty who were of the opinion that the entire exam ought to be cancelled.'' Mr Subramaniam also told the court that the examination was being rescheduled and the admission process may be completed by July 31.

The exam will have to be conducted afresh under stringent security cover.

Senior Counsel Arun Jaitley, appearing for 12 doctors opposing the cancellation of exam, told the court that only 22 candidates out of 36945 students have been found using unfair means and on the basis of such stray incidents of use of unfair means the entire exam cannot be cancelled.

In all, 3086 candidates have come in the merit list. The court said it was not fully satisfied with the suggestion of the Centre to cancel the entire examination on the basis of the material collected by the CBI so far.

Counsel appearing for BDS and MDS students also submitted that not even a single incident of copying has been reported from the centre for BDS and MDS candidates.

A case under section 120 B (Criminal conspiracy) and section 420 (Cheating) has been registered by the CBI and the investigations are on.

Additional Solicitor General appearing for the government also expressed shock at the involvement of senior professors as well as members of the legal fraternity in the racket.

The court would decide on April 13 whether or not the entrance test should be cancelled.

Today's proceedings, however, indicated that the court was not inclined to scap the entire test on the basis of the material collected by the investigating agencies till date.

UNI AKS/SC ARB BST1806

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