Professor Jayashankar Telangana Agricultural University (PJTAU) has uncovered a major examination malpractice case involving the leak of a B.Sc. (Agriculture) semester question paper, prompting the suspension of 30 in service Agriculture Extension Officers (AEOs) by the Telangana Agriculture Department.
The irregularity came to light during internal inspections at the College of Agriculture in Jagtial, where university authorities reviewed examination records and CCTV footage. The findings indicated unauthorised access to the question paper before the examination, raising concerns over the integrity of the exam process.
Action Taken
Following preliminary findings:
- 30 Agriculture Extension Officers were suspended for their alleged role in the leak.
- Earlier, four university officials connected to examination processes were also placed under suspension.
- PJTAU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Aldas Janaiah constituted a three member inquiry committee to conduct a detailed internal investigation.
Possible CB CID Investigation
Given the scale and seriousness of the case, the university and state authorities are considering transferring the investigation to the Crime Branch CID (CB-CID). All relevant documents, digital records and surveillance footage have reportedly been preserved for further inquiry.
Wider Implications
Investigators suspect that the leak may not be an isolated incident. Preliminary assessments indicate that similar practices could have occurred over multiple years, allegedly involving in-service candidates gaining unfair advantage in examinations. There are indications that question papers may have been circulated through private messaging platforms for monetary gain.
Impact
The incident has raised serious concerns about:
- Examination security in higher education institutions
- Misuse of official positions by government employees
- The credibility of in-service quota admissions and assessments
University authorities have stated that strict corrective measures will be implemented to prevent recurrence and further disciplinary and legal action will follow based on the outcome of the investigation.
