Question papers leak scam rocks Telangana’s Agricultural varsity

The Professor Jayashankar Telangana Agricultural University cancelled admissions of 35 agricultural extension officers, who are pursuing BSc Agriculture as in-service students, and four varsity staff for involvement in the question paper leak scam.

Hyderabad: A major question paper leak scam has been unearthed at the Professor Jayashankar Telangana Agricultural University (PJTAU) that led to cancellation of admissions of around 35 agricultural extension officers, who are pursuing third-year BSc Agriculture as in-service students. In addition, the varsity suspended four university staff members.

The issue came to light after PJTAU Vice Chancellor Prof. Aldas Janaiah, along with other varsity officials, recently visited the university’s agricultural college in Jagtial. The officials who examined examination records and reviewed the CCTV footage suspected that semester-end examination question papers were leaked.

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This prompted the university to constitute a three-member committee to probe the leak. After holding thorough inquiry, the committee found that in-service students with the help of university staff were leaking the examination question papers.

Further, the committee found that leaked question papers were circulated to students of other agricultural colleges via WhatsApp groups. The probe also revealed that large sums of money were exchanged for question papers and the malpractice was going on for the past several years.

After cancellation of admissions, in-service students were sent back to their parent Agriculture department, while four university staff, including one senior official, were suspended from their duties.

According to Prof. Janaiah, absence of full-time officials at the senior level in the university between 2014 and 2024 resulted in several irregularities. “The question paper leak scam is one among them,” he said.

If necessary, a complaint would be lodged with the Cyber Crime department for a comprehensive investigation, he said, adding that people involved in the scam would not be spared and strict action would be initiated.

The current examination system would be reviewed and necessary reforms, including the latest technological advancements, would be introduced to strengthen the quality of agricultural education in the State, he added.