Professor suspended for losing answer scripts; Uncertainty clouds fate of 163 TDC students of GU

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, January 29: One hundred and sixty three answer scripts of TDC third semester went missing after a senior professor of Arya Vidyapeeth College took the scripts home for evaluation.

The erring professor, Dr Karabi Kar, was today placed under suspension by the Directorate of Higher Education, even as uncertainty loomed over the fate of the 163 students.

College Principal Saibal Sengupta said the incident took place on January 24.

“Dr Kar took the answer scripts home for evaluation. She went on a rickshaw. She claimed that she lost those scripts at Paltan Bazar. That evening itself, an FIR was lodged at Paltan Bazar police station,” Sengupta said.

Dr Kar is an associate professor in the Education department of the college. She is also a former Head of the department. She had been working at the college since 1982.

“Though the following day was a holiday, we summoned her and sought an explation. She gave an explation in writing with a copy of the FIR,” the Principal said.

The explation and the FIR were forwarded to the Gauhati University. “Today, the Directorate of Higher Education issued her suspension orders,” he informed.

Meanwhile, the Arya Vidyapeeth college authorities have appealed to the people to report to the institution or the police in case anyone finds the lost answer scripts.

Under UGC norms, teachers cannot take home answer scripts for evaluation. They have to evaluate scripts in the college premises. Teachers are paid at the rate Rs 30 for each answer script evaluated.

Asked as to why Dr Kar took the answer scripts home, the college Principal said, “Normally, they can’t be taken home. But at times, especially during vacations and holidays, some teachers take scripts home due to shortage of time.”

It is not known as to which college the lost answer scripts were from.

The incident has sparked widespread criticism across the State, especially from the academic circles. Questions have been raised as to why the professor was allowed to take home the answer scripts. The casual attitude of the erring professor has also drawn much flak.

The incident has also landed the Gauhati University in a tight spot. It is bound to create an uncertainty about the declaration of results and particularly the fate of those 163 students whose scripts were lost.