Patna, May 2: A faculty member of Patna University, evaluating graduation papers, recently came across an answer sheet bearing similarity to matriculation papers.

The graduate examinee’s paper to which money was attached read: “Namaskar Sir! Hamara course complete nahi hua tha isliye hum kuch nahi likh sake, kripya kar ke hume paas kar dein (Sir, our course was not completed on time, so I could not write anything. Please grant me pass marks).”

Notes from students, pleading for pass marks, accompanied by money inside answer sheets, are not confined to matriculation examinees. Students of the varsity have also taken the same route. However, sources said such type of answer sheets are nothing new at Patna University. The number of such answer scripts has, however, increased in the past few years, thanks to the start of a large number of vocational and self-financing courses.

A faculty member claimed though a large number of vocational courses have opened at the varsity, lack of basic infrastructure, including scarcity of faculty members required for the courses, have made students of these vocational departments to tender such requests, as they are forced to appear in the examinations with incomplete syllabi.

At present, evaluation of graduation and postgraduation papers are on at Patna Women’s College and the university senate hall respectively. A senior teacher of Patna University, who is evaluating papers at Patna Women’s College, said: “Out of 100 answer scripts, on an average, we receive seven to eight copies with such pleas.”

The faculty members claim that most of these pleas are not taken seriously. Many even take harsh actions on such requests by deducting marks from the candidate.

The poor state of vocational courses at the varsity has always remained an issue, as most of these courses lack basic infrastructure. Patna University has more than 30 vocational and self-financing courses to offer. However, most of them are on the verge of being withdrawn, as despite requests from the head of departments, no action has been taken by the university administration to upgrade the departments.

N.K. Choudhary, a teacher of economics, Patna University, said: “These departments are suffering from severe fund crisis. Ultimately, the students suffer as the syllabus is never completed because of inadequate number of teachers to run the courses.”

Two days back, the varsity decided to close down mas- ter in finance control course, as it would be declared a zero session.