College Street: Calcutta University has posted a notice on its website cautioning BA, BSc and BCom candidates about the consequences of violating the ban on carrying mobile phones to their examination centres.

"A candidate found in possession of such devices in the examination hall shall be 'reported against' by the officer-in-charge of the examination centre concerned. The officer-in-charge of the examination centre shall in such case send a report to te the controller of examinations, following the usual procedure and together with the answer script and the seized devices in separate covers..." the notice states.

Till last year, a routine notice would be circulated among colleges affiliated to Calcutta University a few days before the examinations. The colleges, in turn, would convey the rules to the examinees verbally or by distributing photocopies at the time of issuing admit cards.

This is the first time that the authorities have published such a notice online with details of how any violation would be treated.

The notice also mentions the provisions for punitive action for malpractices like leaving the examination hall without submitting one's answer script, causing disturbance, rioting and assaulting or intimidating invigilators.

Students get caught using mobiles and smartwatches for cheating in examinations each year. The university believes the practice is rampant partly because colleges fail to convey the consequences of such offences to the students. "There is a need to create awareness among students about how they should conduct themselves during examinations," said Jayanta Sinha, the controller of examinations.