Representatives of the Mahatma Gandhi University who visited BVM Holy Cross College, Cherpunkal, Pala have observed that there were flaws in how the college authorities handled the exam cheating case, after which a 20-year-old student, Anju Shaji, died by suicide.
“After the authorities found the student cheating in the exam, they should have immediately taken her to the principal’s room. Sitting in the hall for half-an-hour could have put the student under a lot of pressure,” Sabu Thomas, Vice Chancellor of MG University, told the media. “The college authorities didn’t show enough seriousness in the issue,” he added.
He said that the university would submit a detailed report within a week.
Anju, a final year BCom student from St Antony’s College, Kanjirappaly, appeared for her exams at BVM College. Last Saturday, she was allegedly found cheating in the exam by the authorities and the college principal asked her to meet him at his office 30 minutes later. He also took away her papers. She left the exam hall around 2.30 pm and went missing. Later, the police found her bag and phone at a bridge nearby while her body was found on Monday in Meenachil river.
“It is an unfortunate incident. We will form plans to provide proper counselling to students. Similar incidents should not repeat,” the VC added.
He also said that the principal of BVM College would be removed from exam duty.
“We might bring changes such as conducting exams without hall ticket,” he said.
Aji C Panicker, a university syndicate member who was part of the enquiry team, also said that there were some mistakes on the part of the college authorities.
“If the student was found cheating, the invigilator and the exam superintendent should have immediately shifted her to the superintendent’s room where an explanation should have been taken from her. But they didn’t do that,” she said.
Aji added that immediately after noticing the malpractice, the authorities should have collected the address and phone number of the student so that they could have traced her after she left the exam hall.
“When she left the hall, nobody followed her or confirmed if she met the principal. If somebody had checked this, we could have saved her,” she pointed out.
Aji also said that the mistakes on the part of the college staff were not intentional but were committed due of carelessness.
She said that the university would also collect the statements of the students who were sitting near Anju, after their exams are over.
If you are aware of anyone facing mental health issues or feeling suicidal, please provide help. Here are some helpline numbers.
Tamil Nadu:
State health department suicide helpline number - 104
Sneha Suicide Prevention Centre - 044-24640050 (listed as the sole suicide prevention helpline in TN
Andhra Pradesh:
Life Suicide Prevention Helpline No.78930-78930
Roshni Helpline 1: 9166202000 Helpline 2: 9127848584
Karnataka:
Sahai: 24-hour helpline numbers: 080- 65000111, 080-65000222
Kerala:
Maithri helpline - 0484-2540530
Chaithram helpline: 0484-2361161
Both are 24-hour helpline numbers.
Telangana:
Telangana government suicide prevention toll-free no: 104
Roshni- 040-66202000, 6620200SEVA- 09441778290, 040 - 27504682 (between 9 AM and 7 PM)