Jammers in exam centres: UGC asks varsities to strictly comply with government policy
New Delhi: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has directed varsities and higher educational institutions to strictly comply with the government's policy while installing jammers in examination centre to check use of unfair means.
The government had in 2016 allowed statutory examination conducting bodies to deploy low powered jammers in examination halls in order to prevent use of unfair means through radio frequency-based devices.
"You must ensure adherence to provision of government's policy on jammers in your university or college," the commission has said in a letter to vice-chancellors and college principals.
The UGC has specified that classroom jammer model--EC-CRJ-6B5--saying it has been successfully evaluated through lab tests and field trials by a board of officers and suggested that jammer model should be used at places where there is no Base Transceiver Station (BTS) within 100 metres of the site.
"Performance of jammers deployed in each examination centre will be verified before commencement of examination as effectiveness of jammers depends on various factors like its power output, signal strength of BTS, traffic load on BTS at a given point of time, distance of jammer from BTS, sensitivity of receiver, terrain, topography and line of sight etc," the commission said.
"Actual deployment of jammers will require prior permission of Secretary (Security) in terms of the jammer policy of the government," the UGC letter said.
The Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL) and the Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL), both government enterprises, have been authorised for supply of low powered jammers for deployment in examination halls, on rental basis, based on requirements furnished by the examination conducting bodies.
As per the policy, inviting open tender from unauthorized manufacturers is not allowed and will be treated as violation of norms.
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Gurugram/New Delhi: A case involving a former Ashoka University student has drawn attention after her parents alleged she went missing and sought a probe into an alleged network, while court records indicate that the woman had left home voluntarily and sought legal protection to live independently.
According to The Print, the parents, who are both academics, have approached the Haryana State Commission for Women, alleging that their daughter was manipulated and used by university officials. They have requested a probe by the National probe Agency and have named multiple individuals, including academic members, researchers, and students, in their complaints.
However, the university stated that the woman ceased to be a student in May 2023 and that its instructors and staff have no participation in the situation.
According to documentation in the case, the woman, who was 22 at the time, left her Rohtak home on October 24, 2023. In her written communication with police officers and the station house officer in Sonipat, she stated that she had departed on her own accord, alleging years of physical and emotional abuse at home and demanding secrecy regarding her location.
She subsequently recorded a statement before a magistrate under provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure. She affirmed her decision to live independently and in later complaints, she alleged continued attempts by her family to contact her and sought police protection.
Court records from the Delhi High Court show that she appeared in person before the court in May 2024 and stated that she wished to choose her own way of life and did not want to interact with her family. The court noted her statement and recorded that she was a major acting of her own volition.
In a subsequent order, the court noted that she had been provided police protection since November 2023 and was residing independently, granting her liberty to approach the court again if required.
The parents, meanwhile, have maintained that their daughter was a meritorious student and alleged that she was traced earlier to premises linked to university staff. They also raised concerns over financial transactions and a name change, which they claim point to a larger network.
At the centre of their allegations is Bittu Kaveri Rajaraman, an associate professor at the university. No response has been issued by the individuals named in the complaint so far.
After the matter was taken up by the women’s commission, chairperson Renu Bhatia said the panel may recommend a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation.
During the hearings, a lawyer claiming to represent the woman arrived before the commission even though she had not been summoned and the commission has asked for her personal appearance.
