Bhubaneswar/Berhampur: State govt on Friday constituted a three-member committee to investigate alleged malpractice in the PG examination conducted by the Odisha University of Health Sciences (OUHS), Bhubaneswar.The panel comprises three officers from health and family welfare department. They were additional secretary Bijay Kumar Dash, special secretary (Medical Services) Dr Bijay Kumar Mishra, and joint director of medical education and training Dr Anil Kumar Sahu. The department has asked the panel to ascertain facts, identify lapses, if any, and submit its report within two weeks.The MKCG Medical College and Hospital, Berhampur, has also constituted a 5-member committee to investigate the issue. The inquiry panel, headed by hospital superintendent Sudeepa Dash, includes the college registrar and three senior professors. The committee has been asked to submit its report within three days, said Hari Krishna Dalai, dean-cum-principal of MKCG Medical College, on Friday.The probe follows allegations that the question paper of the second theory examination of the MS/MD postgraduate course was circulated on social media shortly after the examination started on July 27. “The persons found guilty of circulating the question paper on social media will face stringent action,” Dalai said.The postgraduate examinations for the 2023-26 batch, conducted by OUHS, began on July 21. Two theory papers have already been held, while the remaining two are scheduled for Saturday and Wednesday. A total of 154 students are appearing at the MKCG examination centre.OUHS vice-chancellor Dr Manas Ranjan Sahoo said, “The question paper was transmitted outside the examination hall after the examination had started. Therefore, this is not a question paper leak but a case of malpractice.He said the university convened a meeting of all medical college deans on July 28 following the incident. During the meeting, the dean of MKCG reportedly acknowledged that a student had taken a mobile phone into the examination hall and that an internal inquiry was underway to ascertain how the lapse occurred.Sahoo said OUHS has sought a detailed inquiry report from the MKCG dean and strengthened its squad and observer mechanism for the remaining theory examinations. “We are convening an examination committee meeting to discuss the issue and decide the next course of action. Any malpractice will be dealt with stringently as per OUHS guidelines,” he added.
