The Veer Madho Singh Bhandari Uttarakhand Technical University (UTU) in Dehradun has canceled its two current semester exams after investigations found that an external question paper setter allegedly shared questions with students before one of the papers. The decision affects students at 12 colleges affiliated with the university.The university also banned the faculty member from all examination-related work for seven years, while his college terminated his services.
Complaint leads to investigation
The controversy began after the university received complaints about its IoT machine learning exam.In an order issued by Director of Examinations Dr V K Patel, the university said that multiple investigations were conducted by the university and the institution that reported the matter and it was found that the same questions that appeared in the exam were allegedly circulated by external question paper setters through the institution’s internal portal and WhatsApp before the exam.The investigation also found that another paper “Electromagnetic Field Theory” written by the professor was also suspected of being leaked.The school order said: “The exams for the two canceled subjects will be re-conducted in the third week of August 2026. All institutions are requested to immediately inform the students concerned of this important decision so that they can be fully prepared for the re-examination within the stipulated time.”
Professor banned for seven years
The university has banned the test setters from all exam-related work for the next seven years.“The paper maker has been summarily banned from all examination-related work at the university for the next seven years,” the order said.The director of exams also warned the college for failing to maintain “adequate oversight and institutional control”.
The college said the issue was shared on WhatsApp
According to Shivalik Engineering College, the alleged leak happened before the exams.Dean of the college Dr TS Sidhu told the media that the professor allegedly shared around 50 questions with students in a WhatsApp group. These questions later appeared in the test papers he developed.The college has fired the assistant professor.
Termination based on University investigation
The termination letter traces the sequence of events over nearly two weeks.According to the college, it received a complaint about the alleged breach on July 8. The Registrar established a preliminary investigation committee on July 10 and submitted its report on July 13.“Based on the preliminary findings, the Registrar constituted an investigative committee on July 10. The committee submitted its report on July 13, following which the college took disciplinary action against you on July 14,” the termination letter read.Initially, the faculty member was banned from producing test papers for three years by the institution.The university subsequently investigated the matter and sent a letter on July 22, holding the test setter responsible for the leak and banning him from all university examination work for seven years.“In light of the school’s findings as described above, and taking into account the seriousness of the misconduct, your conduct constitutes a serious breach of trust and professional ethics and renders your continued service detrimental to the interests and reputation of the school,” the termination letter read.It also added that the services of the assistant professor were terminated with immediate effect as per Clause 15 of the appointment letter dated July 22, 2019.So how do papers continue to get to students before exams begin, even after stricter laws and repeated crackdowns? That is the question the university’s actions and any further investigation must now answer.
