I never favoured any student, says former Anna University VC

Former Anna University Vice Chancellor (VC) P Mannar Jawahar, who is in the thick of a controversy following allegations that he had asked Examination Department officials to award higher marks to failed students, has denied that he had any role in the marks scam.

A three-member committee, which had probed the examination marks scandal in the prestigious Anna University, had recommended that a high level committee be constituted to probe into the alleged involvement of Jawahar in the scam.

“I never favoured any individual candidate or asked anyone to give marks to particular students. At a meeting of Heads of Departments, I had generally asked them to be liberal in evaluation and award grace marks so that students did not fail on account of falling short off a few marks. This is all on record. Sometimes, students cleared several subjects but keep failing in one or two papers as a result of which they could not get their degree certificates. In such cases, we conducted special classes for them so that they could pass,” Jawahar told Express on Monday.

“I have nothing to hide and will come out clean in the inquiry. These charges are being levelled against me to sully my image at a time when the syndicate of the unified Anna University is set to be constituted and the process of selecting the next VC would begin. Some people are working against me.” Asked about suspended former Additional Controller of Examination Tamilporai’s charge that he had acted on Jawahar’s instructions and awarded pass marks to failed students, the former VC said “there is no evidence for his allegations.”

Questioned about the allegation that he had failed to probe the examination marks scandal when it was brought to his knowledge over two years ago, Jawahar said “I had received anonymous letters complaining that the then Deputy Controller of Examination Mani Anand (since suspended) was favouring certain students. I immediately relieved him from the Examination Department. I could not proceed beyond this as there was no proof of marks being altered.”

A senior professor of the university who had deposed before the inquiry committee had submitted in writing alleging that Jawahar could have instructed Mani Anand to award pass marks to some students.

However, Jawahar countered the charge asking “If Mani Anand had acted on my instructions, why would I have relieved him as Deputy CoE?” According to him, he had called for liberal evaluation and “moderation” in awarding marks only to ensure that students did not suffer.