Chennai: Students of the University of Madras have alleged irregularities in the evaluation of answer scripts and discrimination in awarding of marks. Three students from the department of journalism and communication conducted a sit-in protest in front of Vice-Chancellor’s office demanding for revaluation of their answer scripts and action against their head of the department professor G. Ravendran for allegedly threatening them.
“Many students got the scores between 45 and to 48 and were failed. The papers were evaluated only after awarding of marks. The professor did not show our answer sheets,” they claimed.
They also claimed that they were penalised for not being part of the performing arts club called Muttram
“Of the 64 classes in a film studies course he took only 24 classes out of which 10 were the movie screening. We had only three classes for performing arts and communication elective classes,” students alleged.
During the viva for internships, the professor has allegedly threatened the students who criticised his poor attendance to the classes on a WhatsApp group. “We demand our papers should be evaluated again by independent examiners. The university should form a committee to enquire our complaints,” they demanded.
In response, professor Ravendran said the allegation that he did not show answer sheets to students was not true. “Two of the three students have seen their answer sheets and signed,” he said. Apart from the physical lectures, he said his lectures are available online. “I have uploaded several hours of lectures on Facebook,” he added.
“We have ordered revaluation for the students. The controller of examinations will constitute independent examiner to evaluate the papers,” said P. Duraisamy, Vice-Chancellor, University of Madras. “We will form a committee to inquire into the allegations against professor Ravendran,” he added.
