BJP MLC demands CID probe into irregularities in digital evaluation in Kuvempu University

Alleging large-scale irregularities in the digital evaluation of answer scripts introduced by Kuvempu University, BJP MLC D.S. Arun has demanded an investigation by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

Addressing presspersons in Shivamogga on Friday, Mr. Arun said that since the introduction of digital evaluation in 2025, there had been many complaints about its efficiency. He said he had sought information on the system and its implementation about three months ago, but had received no reply.

“The university constituted a committee of professors to verify how the digital evaluation has been functioning. The committee found that the private agency that had an agreement with the university to run the system did not fulfil mandatory requirements,” he said.

According to the agreement, the agency was to provide computers to evaluators and ensure that the process was conducted under CCTV surveillance. It did not do so, he said. There were also complaints about the visibility of answer scripts on screen because of problems in the scanning process.

He said digital evaluation was introduced to make the system foolproof, but there was no software to integrate its data with the University, University Colleges Management System (UUCMS). “Though the evaluation was done digitally, the staff had to enter the marks manually. The committee noticed these loopholes in the system. Besides, the money spent on digital evaluation is more than what the manual process incurred,” he alleged.

The committee’s report was to be discussed at the syndicate meeting scheduled for September 30. “Notices were issued well in advance to all members. However, the meeting was cancelled the previous evening, giving rise to suspicion that the committee report is being suppressed,” he said.

Mr. Arun further alleged that police complaints had been filed against a staff member for misusing the Digital Signature Code (DSC) key to make entries on the UUCMS in exchange for money. The accused allegedly entered pass marks for several candidates who had actually failed the semester examinations.

“It is a huge scam, bigger than the one that came out in the Karnataka Public Service Commission. The matter should be probed in detail to book those responsible for the loopholes and irregularities. The State government should hand over the case to the CID,” he said.

District BJP president N.K. Jagadish and others were present at the press conference.