Kottayam: Kerala's higher education minister K T Jaleel is no stranger to controversies. Months after he was blamed for nepotism in the appointments to a few government agencies, opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala has claimed the minister intervened in helping a candidate pass an examination conducted by the Mahatma Gandhi University.
Soon after Chennithala sought a judicial probe into the scandal and wanted the minister to step aside till the probe is over, allegations, counter-allegations and denials are flying thick and fast.
The fresh allegations have come close on the heels of Jaleel, who is also the pro-chancellor of the APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University, getting embroiled in another marks scam. It was then alleged he intervened to secure pass marks for a student of the Technological University.
The latest row is linked to a B Tech student of a self-financing college in Kothamangalam. In February 2019, at an adalat conducted by the MG University, the student had sought grace marks granted for participation in the National Service Scheme for addition to the supplementary examination of the sixth semester.
The plea was rejected since the student had already been given grace mark.
However, it is alleged one more mark was granted to the student on the directions of the minister's private secretary who was taking part in the adalat. When university officials pointed out that the adalat did not have the powers to grant marks in such a fashion, the matter was transferred to the university Syndicate.
However, the Left-leaning members of the Syndicate demanded extra marks for not just one student but for their favourites too. Following this, five marks were awarded as moderation to all students who were yet to clear at least one subject in a semester in B Tech exams conducted by the university until now.
When a student asked for one mark, five marks were given away to everyone, said Chennithala. "This is a serious violation of university norms. The marks can be changed only after revaluation," he said.
"If the minister and the Syndicate members belonging to Left parties are going to grant marks to their favourites at their will, why should students take the pain of preparing for the exams?" Chennithala asked. "Who has given the power to the minister to make fun of hardworking students," he asked.
Minister refutes
Meanwhile, Jaleel, on his part, challenged Chennithala to present proof of any wrongdoing. "What proof does he have? Who gave directions to whom? Does he have any proof to substantiate his charges?" Jaleel counters.
"It is true that the higher education secretary and, in my absence, my private secretary took part in the adalat. The adalat was held to clear files fast. The academic decisions of the university are taken by the Syndicate and the vice-chancellor. You should ask them what happened at the university," he said.
"The opposition is raising false charges against the government as it has become clear that they are heading for a huge loss in the bypolls. Earlier too they had sought my resignation over the issue of nepotism. The court and the governor rejected all those allegations. There is no point in responding to attempts to spread falsehoods in the guise of truth," Jaleel said. The vice-chancellor will be able to tell why the grace marks were granted, he added.
VC denies charges
The vice-chancellor, Dr Sabu Thomas, said that the charges against the university are baseless.
"Moderation was provided as per the university's exam rules. Since the B Tech course has been completely shifted to APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University, only the supplementary students are continuing at MG University. The Syndicate that met on April 30 decided to give five marks to those who have failed in only one subject," he said.
"At the adalat, we got the application of only one student. No decision was taken on the plea. Higher education minister K T Jaleel did not take part in the adalat; instead he opened it through video-conferencing. The minister's private secretary took part in the opening ceremony only; he did not attend the proceedings," Thomas said.
The moderation was granted as per the university norms. The allegations that it was manipulated are baseless, said pro vice-chancellor Dr C T Aravind Kumar, and Syndicate members Dr R Pragash and Dr A Jose.
The saving ‘grace’
The university had 'gifted' five marks to the student who sought just one grace mark by violating all the guidelines and ignoring the objections of officials. It is also not known why the private secretary of the higher education minister attended the adalat.
The Syndicate had used its special powers to reject the objections raised by the officials of the Pareeksha Bahavan to grant the extra marks. Though just one student had sought grace marks at the adalat, the Syndicate decided to provide five extra marks to 25 students.
The B Tech student sought one grace mark in his application to the university. Since the student had already got the grace mark for being a member of the National Service Scheme, the officials of the Pareeksha Bhavan said that the student can't be give any more grace mark. The vice-chancellor had also rejected the student's plea.
The student then applied for special moderation at the pareeksha adalat. Since moderation can't be allowed once results are announced, the Pareeksha Bahavan officials said that this application too would be rejected. The vice-chancellor then sent the plea to the consideration of the Academic Council. This body has never met after this.
Before the academic council meets, the Syndicate decided to provide extra marks using its discretionary powers. Usually, moderation marks are provided by the pass board on the recommendation of the Academic Council. But, once the results are announced, moderation marks are not granted. Here, even the pass board did not meet.
The extra marks were granted citing an instance where marks were granted to those who failed when the Pre-Degree Course was delinked from colleges.
The private secretary, who had attended the adalat in the absence of the minister, extended his best wishes to the function too.
