20 CCTV cams installed at UoP examination dept

The University of Pune (UoP) recently installed 20 CCTV cameras in its two-storeyed examination department. The step was taken as a precautionary measure after a couple of fake mark sheet rackets were busted in the last six months.u00a0The cameras were installed in all the sensitive sections of the department.

The Controller of Examination (COE), Dr Sampada Joshi has direct access to all the cameras. "Previously, there were only three CCTV cameras installed at the entrance. But last week we installed 20 new cameras at in all the important sections of the department," Joshi said. u00a0Some of the important sections where the cameras were installed are result, strong room, certificate, coordination and revaluation.u00a0

Rectifying past mistakes: One of the 20 CCTV cams installed in the examination department

Mark sheet rackets
In the first incident, varsity Registrar Dr Manik Jadhav issued show cause notice to deputy registrar and a department clerk in January for their alleged involvement in forging mark sheets.

It had came to the fore that a Commerce student, who had failed in one of the subjects, secured a fake mark sheet showing that he had passed his examinations in all the subjects.


The notice informing students that their entry in the department is prohibited. Earlier, there were just three CCTV cameras installed at the department's entrance. PicIC/Krunal Gosavi

Two clerks from the department were arrested in April for issuing fake mark sheets. The police officials busted the racket in which three Iranian students were issued fake mark sheets by changing original leisure of result.

Dr Joshi confirmed that CCTVs were installed to prevent such malpractices. "All the cameras have storage capacity for a month. We can crosscheck all the activities which happened in the department if required," Joshi said.

She also said that student were prohibited from entering the department. "If students have issues with their mark sheets, then as per the rules their colleges are supposed to approach to exam department. Unfortunately, in several cases, colleges directly send students to the department. This free movement of students in the exam department create problems," Joshi said.

An official from the department said that CCTVs alone cannot curb malpractices in the department, but it will definitely play an important role in investigation them.u00a0