In a new twist in the Anna University examination marks scandal, an inquiry committee has recommended that the alleged role of former Vice Chancellor (V-C) P Mannar Jawahar in the academic fraud must be probed by a high-level committee. This follows allegations that he had instructed Examination Department officials to award pass marks to some influential students who had failed in the semester examinations during 2009 to 2012.
The university is yet to act on the recommendation. However, a week ago authorities suspended a former Additional Controller of Examination (CoE) and two assistant professors for their alleged involvement in the scam.
Anna University officiating Vice Chancellor Kaliraj on Sunday acknowledged that three faculty members have been suspended. Asked if the high-level committee has been constituted to probe into Jawahar’s role, he said, “Not Yet. The government has to decide (on it).”
Those suspended are — former Additional CoE Prof P Tamilporai of Mechanical Engineering Department; former Deputy CoE and Ramanujan Computing Centre assistant professor K P Mani Anand; and Department of Computer Technology assistant professor R Sivakoumar.
It is reliably learnt that during the inquiry, Tamilporai had told the committee that he had merely acted on Jawahar’s instructions. He had alleged that the then V-C had periodically pressured him to award pass marks to some failed candidates. To carry out Jawahar’s instructions he had roped in Sivakoumar and gave him answer scripts of various subjects to evaluate.
Another senior professor, who deposed as witness, is also learnt to have pointed fingers at Jawahar.
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