Mumbai University 2011- Students detained for protesting result delay

Mumbai University 2011- Students detained for protesting result delay

Angry students of Mumbai University created a ruckus at the examination house at Kalina campus demanding an explanation for the delay in the results of 1,886 students. While the university results were finally declared on Wednesday after a 100-day delay, the results of some students have still not been declared.

Around 25 third year BCom students were detained after a lathi charge by the police and taken to Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) police station. “Students were detained for some time but were released later. We have asked for an explanation from the Controller of Examination (COE),” said a senior officer from the BKC police station.
As per university rules, the exam results must to be declared within 30-45 days after the examination. When the results were finally declared on Wednesday, the university website crashed due to which students could not access the results for almost 5 hours.

While this deadline has already been over-stepped, the results of some students have still not been declared. University authorities claim that results of some of the students have been delayed on grounds of cheating. “I have been told that my result has been witheld because I cheated in the exam. I was never picked up by any supervisor for cheating. This is just an excuse,” says Sunil Yadav, a student of Gyan Sadhana in Thane.

Several students were unable to apply for jobs and post-graduate courses abroad because they did not get their marksheets on time. Admissions to other courses have also been pushed back due to the delay. “I gave my exam through correspondence and I really don't know what went wrong and why my results are being witheld,” says Vishal Batade, a student.

Though the COE Vilas Shinde had promised to release the witheld results in two days, they are still not out. Shinde personally went to BKC police station to give a clarification for the results. “I went personally so that the 25 students who were detained could be released. We are trying from our end to release the results within the next two days. The delay was not due to technical glitches but a human error,” he said.

According to sources, a snag in the new Objective Mark Recognition (OMR) system used by the university has led to the result delay. Each answer sheet is scanned by a machine. In the last three months, three sets of defective machines have been replaced and almost 3.5 crore rupees has been spent on printing new answer sheets, equipment cost and additional manpower.

Moreover, the OMR machines are procured from a Manipal-based company and any problem has to be addressed to the company, which adds to the delay.

The students had also approached the student wing organisation of the MNS for help. “All this delay is due to the lax attitude of the authorities. The students are helpless,” says Sainath Durge an MNS member.

Mumbai University Vice Chancellor Rajan Welukar personally went to the examination house to know about the status of the results. The COE has promised to release the results in two days.