Dec. 13: Gauhati University today started its much-awaited move to punish the university officials involved in the answerscript evaluation scam by placing the controller of examination Prafulla Kumar Deka under suspension.

Vice-chancellor G.N. Talukdar said departmental proceedings would soon be initiated against Deka who was indicted by a two-member inquiry committee for his “prime and pivotal” role in gross anomalies relating to evaluation of answerscripts of the degree Part I and II examinations.

Refusing to divulge the names of the other officials who face punitive action next, Talukdar said everything would be clear within a month. He said no guilty official would be spared.

Deka, who went on long leave, joined duty yesterday and was immediately served an official notice to relinquish his post. The formal order of his suspension was issued today.

Earlier, a civil court in an order had asked the university not to take action against Deka when he was on leave. Nilmoni Bora, secretary, university classes, will take over the additional responsibility of the controller of examination.

A two-member inquiry committee comprising retired judge of Gauhati High Court D.N. Choudhury and educationist K.K. Bora conducted the probe and submitted its report in September.

Deka, who was holding the post of controller of examination for five years, was asked to supervise, monitor and direct the examination zones and zonal officers, head examiners and scrutinisers in performing their duties and responsibilities during examinations.

The inquiry committee, however, found that several zonal officers had appointed examiners in violation of the norms and the decision runs counter to the statutory provisions and established norms and standards of the university.

The zonal officers were not authorised to appoint examiners on their own. But contrary to this, the office of controller of examination of Gauhati University distributed blank examiner appointment letters to all zonal officers.

The executive council of Gauhati University had earlier decided to withdraw the degrees awarded to Abdul Motalib, lecturer of Haji Anfor Motalib College, Daboka, Tazammal Hussain Choudhury and Mussabbir Hussain, lecturers of the Ghana Kanta Bora college, Morigaon, for their involvement in malpractices in answerscript evaluation.

The status of examination zones of Handique Girls College and Pragjyotish College has also been withdrawn as these violated the existing rules.