CU Plans Comprehensive Exam System — In the wake of public outrage and administrative pressure following the recent law college rape incident, the University of Calcutta (CU) is considering a major overhaul of its examination system to tighten supervision and enhance student safety.
The incident, which allegedly occurred on campus premises, triggered widespread demands for accountability—not just on security lapses but also on the university’s broader academic and administrative oversight. CU officials, responding to growing criticism, are now planning substantial reforms in the way college-level exams are monitored and conducted across its affiliated institutions.
CU Plans Comprehensive Exam System: A Shocking Crime and Institutional Silence
A month ago, a female student from a Kolkata-based law college affiliated with CU alleged that she was raped by a fellow student inside the institution’s premises. The delay in immediate institutional response, combined with lapses in internal disciplinary action, sparked a furore across civil society, women’s rights groups, and student bodies.
The accused was reportedly out on bail in a separate criminal case at the time, raising questions about the vetting process in student enrolments and the level of campus surveillance. Critics claimed that the CU administration had failed to enforce its own codes of conduct and safety protocols.
Planned Reforms: Focus on Examination Halls
In response, CU has hinted at implementing structural reforms, especially in how semester exams are administered. According to university officials, the overhaul will include:
- More Frequent Surprise Inspections: To prevent collusion, misconduct, or intimidation during exams.
- Deployment of External Observers: Exams will no longer be managed solely by internal college staff. A rotation of external supervisors will be introduced.
- CCTV Monitoring Expansion: Surveillance coverage will be widened in examination centers, particularly in common areas such as staircases, corridors, and washrooms.
- Biometric Attendance for Students and Invigilators: To accurately track movement and presence.
- Anti-Harassment Committees at College Level: Mandatory formation of Gender Sensitization and Internal Complaints Committees that must remain active during exams.
According to a senior official at CU’s Controller of Examinations office, “We cannot afford to treat exams as mere academic routines anymore. Security and ethical conduct must go hand in hand.”
Legal and Political Pressure
West Bengal’s Higher Education Department has also taken cognizance of the situation. While the government has refrained from direct intervention in CU’s autonomy, education minister Bratya Basu emphasized during a recent press interaction that, “No institution, whether autonomous or affiliated, can remain indifferent when student safety is compromised.”
There is also speculation that the University Grants Commission (UGC) may issue advisory guidelines urging universities to establish clear codes of conduct and enforce consequences for violations.
Meanwhile, student unions affiliated with different political parties have continued to organize protests, calling for resignation of specific administrators and demanding urgent action. The Students’ Federation of India (SFI) led a rally last week outside the university headquarters, urging the VC to step up campus safety measures and publish a white paper on exam center reforms.
Ground-Level Challenges
While the policy direction seems clear, the implementation may face significant logistical and financial challenges.
Several colleges under CU operate in old buildings without basic surveillance infrastructure. “Installing biometric systems or CCTV cameras in dozens of colleges across districts like Howrah, North and South 24 Parganas will require a major fund infusion,” said a principal of an affiliated college on condition of anonymity.
Moreover, some faculty members have expressed concern over the implications of constant monitoring. “Teaching and invigilation must not turn into a police-like exercise. We need a balance,” said a senior professor from CU’s Political Science department.
Role of Student Safety Committees
The incident has also reignited the conversation around campus-level Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs), as per the guidelines of the University Grants Commission (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal of Sexual Harassment of Women Employees and Students in Higher Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2015.
As per recent CU data, many affiliated colleges have either failed to constitute ICCs or have committees on paper with no real functionality. This has created a critical gap in redressal and prevention.
CU is reportedly working on a new protocol to ensure compliance. The Vice-Chancellor is expected to issue a circular by the end of July mandating all colleges to publicly display their ICC details on their websites and notice boards.
Experts Call for Holistic Reform
Several education experts and child rights activists have weighed in on the broader cultural change required in educational spaces.
Dr. Malini Bhattacharya, former Chairperson of the West Bengal Commission for Women, said, “You can’t isolate exams from the campus climate. CU must address the environment of casual sexism and impunity that emboldens such crimes. That will require more than just cameras and rules.”
She also urged the university to initiate gender-sensitization workshops at regular intervals across colleges.
Way Forward: Digital Integration and Centralized Monitoring
CU is also exploring the option of launching a centralized digital exam monitoring dashboard—a portal where college authorities can upload real-time reports, CCTV footage archives, and biometric attendance logs. This could enable a quicker response from CU officials if irregularities or misconduct are flagged.
Further, student feedback forms post-exams could become a routine feature. A secure QR code-based anonymous feedback system is being tested in two pilot colleges, with the potential for scaling up by the next academic cycle.
Closing Thoughts
The University of Calcutta stands at a critical juncture. As one of the oldest universities in India, its reputation is not just built on academic output but also on how well it protects its students and maintains ethical standards in its affiliated institutions.
This proposed exam system overhaul is more than just a response to a horrific incident—it is a reckoning with the need for change. But only sustained effort, transparent governance, and active student involvement will ensure that change is meaningful and lasting.
External References:
- University Grants Commission – ICC Guidelines
- West Bengal Higher Education Department
- National Commission for Women (India)
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