These are difficult times for the education sector in Tamilnadu. After the NEET fiasco, graft charges against a Vice-Chancellor, Nirmala Devi scandal and TRB scam, cash-for-marks racket has been busted in Anna University, the State’s premier engineering institution. Things can’t get worse for TN than this, for the State was once a sought-after destination for scholars and students thanks to its standard of education, number of colleges and job opportunities.
As far as the latest row is concerned, the police have booked 10 professors, including a former controller of examinations of Anna University, for allegedly receiving money from some engineering students and giving them extra marks during re-evaluation. The anti-corruption wing of the State police conducted searches at the premises related to the 10 professors and seized incriminating documents, it is said.
“During the searches, documents relating to alleged irregularities in re-evaluation and those pertaining to properties of the accused were seized,” reports stated, and added that the action was taken based on information received from sources that the accused had received money from students, who had appeared for exams in 2017, and had granted them excess marks during re-evaluation. This is yet another clear case of fence eating the crop and strict action is needed against the guilty to protect the sanctity of institutions like Anna University. With moral values going for a toss, only fear of punishment can prevent such crimes from happening.