Gaya, Nov. 10: The fate of more than 40,000 examinees of arts, science and commerce of Magadh University, Bodh Gaya, continues to hang in balance as their answerbooks have not been examined following revelations of bungling in registration and issuance of admit cards to students appearing from ?fake? institutions.

The examinations were held in July and according to the guidelines issued by the chancellor, the university is under obligation to declare the results within 40 days of the commencement of the test. The deadline lapsed more than three months ago and nobody knows when the results would be published.

The problem arose following detection of bungling as degree aspirants from non-affiliated institutions were allowed to appear at the exam. These non-affiliated institutions, also known as ?degree shops? in local parlance, offer degrees at negotiable prices. Sources said degrees are available at rates ranging between Rs 4,000 and Rs 20,000 depending on the paying capacity of those seeking to buy and the division sought.

Magadh University, Bodh Gaya, has earned notoriety for fake degree rackets. The racket surfaced when it was found that as many as 642 examinees appeared for the Physics (honours) exam from Laloo-Mandal College. The number of history (honours) examinees from the same institution was a mind-boggling 1,008.

Magadh University vice-chancellor Shamshad Hussain instituted an inquiry under pro vice-chancellor S.S. Tulseyan.

Though the inquiry report was not made public, it is learnt that the committee made the startling revelation that no less than 52 institutions did not have a legal existence as they were not granted affiliation by the state government in accordance with Section 21 of the Bihar Universities Act, 1976. Laloo-Mandal College was one of them.

Then chancellor M. Rama Jois placed an embargo on the evaluation of answerbooks and publication of result of students appearing from non-affiliated institutions. The number of such examinees is estimated to be more than 20,000. The chancellor gave the go-ahead for the publication of result of the remaining 24,000 degree examinees appearing from genuine institutions.

But even the answerscripts of examinees appearing from genuine institutions have yet not been evaluated.

Asked about the cause of delay, Tulseyan said he has already issued necessary directives for answerbook evaluation and result publication of genuine students, but the directive has not been complied with by his subordinates.