In various meetings with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and state Chief Secretary Manoj Pant, agitating junior doctors had highlighted the ‘threat culture’ and, as a part of which, ‘cheating’ and ‘favouritism’ to a section of medical students during examinations by a group that had close connection with Sandip Ghosh former principal of R G Kar Medical College Hospital.
Ghosh is presently in jail, accused of ‘hushing up’ rape and murder incident as well as in another case of financial irregularities. Both are being probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Agitating junior doctors raised the issue of a section of medical students being allowed to cheat in examinations and given high marks during their meeting with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on October 21 in Nabanna (state secretariat). The chief minister hinted at strict vigil during examinations during the meeting.
According to sources, authorities of West Bengal University of Health Sciences held a meeting with principals of all medical colleges on October 30 on the issue of examinations.
“We have planned various initiatives so that examinations can be done in a transparent manner. We have held meetings with authorities of all medical colleges. Post graduate medical examinations will soon be held in different colleges, where the strictures will be applicable. There will be facilities of live streaming during the examinations so that we can observe it even sitting in University office. This is one of the many measures we have decided to put in place,” said a senior official of WBUHS.
According to university sources, CCTV cameras have been made mandatory in every examination hall in medical colleges. The footage will later be sent to the university. The medical college authorities will also have to store the CCTV footage for a year in case it is needed. The process of preparing question papers will also have to be done under CCTV surveillance. The process of selecting examiners and invigilators has also been made stricter.
The system of bar codes on answer sheets was an existing norm but for the last few years it was not adhered to. This time it will be strictly administered. This was done to keep the identity of the student a secret to the professor who will be checking the answer sheet.
The move has been welcomed by the agitating junior doctors. Aniket Mahato, one of the leading faces of junior doctors’ agitation told reporters that, “This should have been done long back. We welcome it. We had raised the issue of cheating allowed to a section of medical students during our meeting with the chief minister.”