The Times of India:Tuesday,January 17, 2012.
PANAJI: Around the beginning of January last year, the general medicine II third year examination of the Goa Medical College was cancelled 10 minutes after it began due to leakage of the question paper. A year and a superannuation on, authorities are still to identify both the culprits and the motive behind the leak, and appear to have made the associate professor in the department of medicine Dr Edwin Gomes, who was accused of leaking the question paper, the fall guy.
Gomes was initially accused of dictating the question paper to the students. When interviewed by the investigating committee, 48 students from that exam stated on record that he had not disclosed any questions. The investigating committee found that the allegation was, therefore, untrue.
In its report (a copy of which is with TOI), the committee refrained from holding Gomes guilty on charges of leaking the question paper by giving him "benefit of doubt". It stated that Gomes was negligent and conducted himself irresponsibly by keeping a copy of the question paper in his cupboard.
Gomes, in his defence, states that his appointment letter as examiner does not contain any instructions on non-retention of question paper copies. Appointment letters to other examiners of a different exam appear to be more comprehensive, acknowledges the committee.
Gomes admits to keeping a copy of the question paper in an unlocked cupboard of the stress test room of GMC which is primarily accessed by him. He says cupboards in GMC aren't locked as most keys have been misplaced.
Registrar of Goa University, V P Kamat told TOI that the varsity's ordinance on examinations states that paper setters should not keep a copy of the question paper with them. "When the whole (paper setting) process is confidential, why has one to keep a copy?" questions Kamat. "He is not a new person. He is fully conversant with the procedures. Nobody can plead ignorance," Kamat added.
So what lies beneath the surface? Gomes alleges that the entire paper leak episode was meticulously carried out to deny him the post of head of GMC's medicine department for which he was eligible on the retirement of Dr N G Dubashi. "This (paper leak) was done to target me," he told TOI.
Kamat counters saying, "We don't appoint HoDs. That (HoD appointment) is a government matter."
To this, B Vijayan, principal secretary, health, says, "It (overlooking Gomes) was a conscious decision of the government as the university has written to us and action is contemplated against Gomes."
Vijayan informed TOI that inquiry proceedings were in progress with a chargesheet likely to be filed soon. "We were not satisfied with the explanation we got (from Gomes) and the government decided to proceed with an inquiry," he observed.
"Being a head of department is not a promotion," Vijayan said, adding, "If Dr Gomes is cleared then he will be eligible for the post. Until such time he is cleared, it doesn't look good (for Gomes to take charge as HoD)," he said. Dr Anar Khandeparkar, seven years Gomes's junior in terms of years of service at GMC, is the current HoD.
The final report of the university's Board of Evaluation (BoE) decision-recommending deterrent action against Gomes-was conveyed to Gomes on September 28, three days before he might have taken charge as HoD on Dubashi's retirement. Kamat calls it coincidence.
The BoE has stated: "Dr Gomes is responsible for the leakage due to careless and irresponsible behaviour by committing breach of trust and confidentiality in keeping additional copies of the question papers and answer key, leaving them unattended and unsecured and thereby leading to the leakage of question papers."
It has recommended deterrent action against Gomes, which includes disqualification from examination work, disciplinary action by authorities concerned, no remuneration for paper setting and reporting of the case to appropriate authorities (police).
Though he said it would be inappropriate for him to comment on the case itself, Dubashi told TOI, "He (Gomes) is a very good physician and a good teacher. I was surprised on the allegations made against him. His integrity is unquestionable."
Gomes alleges that the leak took place from within the university. He told TOI that he had handed the envelopes containing the three sets of question papers and answer keys to the clerk in the examination section on November 16, 2010, but the clerk maintains Gomes did so on November 19, 2010.
The sealing of the envelopes is also contentious with Gomes claiming he had signature-sealed them but the university maintaining otherwise. The logbook page obtained through RTI (a copy of which is with TOI) shows that the date of Gomes' submission entry is overwritten.
While the source of the leak is yet to be traced, Gomes says the incident brought the anomalies in paper setting and storing procedures of the university to the fore. The investigative committee made five recommendations, including printing of clear instructions on appointment letters, proper control over keys of cupboards storing question papers, handling of draft question papers by officers instead of clerks and improving of record-keeping procedures.
Kamat says examination procedures of the university are being overhauled "not due to this incident, but for improved and efficient functioning". The university considers this particular case closed. "From the university side, it's a closed matter," said Kamat.
"If Gomes feels aggrieved regarding any decision then there are other avenues (to redress the grievance)... the law of the land is there," Kamat said. Gomes said he will take legal recourse depending on how the situation evolves.
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