NAGPUR: Days after the NEET-UG Exam was held across the country, a girl candidate has alleged that a faulty wall clock in the exam room adversely affected the performance of students. She also accused officials of forcing her and other students to mention a time which was beyond the schedule at the time of OMR sheet submission. Late submission is likely to result in poor performance scores.
The complaint submitted to National Testing Agency (NTA) says Anagha Jaiswal appeared for her NEET at Delhi Public School (DPS), Kamptee, in room number 24 on July 17. “The wall clock of this room lagged behind during the exams by almost 20 minutes. Our OMR sheet was collected by the invigilator at 5.05 pm as per the wall clock. However, the students were made to write 5.22pm during submission. The invigilator and the management did not understand the magnitude of the delay and failed to change the clock or inform the children,” she said.
As per norms, students are not allowed to carry a timepiece, among several other articles.
DPS principal Ritu Sharma denied receiving any complaint, saying, “It is fake. There was no foul play. I have no idea about any such issue. We perform whatever duties are assigned to us by the NTA. The exam was held under CCTV surveillance and everything is relayed to NTA.”
Anagha has moved the NTA, education ministry, and the PMO. NTA authorities didn’t respond to TOI’s calls.
Anagha’s complaint reads, “The wall clock in our room malfunctioned. When the exam started, the wall clock showed right time and it was 2pm. But, over the course of the exams it slowed by 20 minutes. At 5.20pm, when the invigilator was instructed to collect the paper from the students, the time in the clock still showed 5pm. Till then, students of this class had marked only half the OMR sheet and were not able to complete their paper due to faulty clock timing. They all were under the impression that they still had 20 minutes to complete the paper. Students then requested the invigilator to grant extra time to fill the OMR sheet as they had already completed solving the MCQs.”
Anagha added that some students were in tears, however, the invigilators said they were helpless, and they cannot grant them extra time and the papers were collected. “Also, when students were writing the actual time from the clock, they were forced to write 5.22 pm as their closing time on the OMR Sheet,” she said.
“Secondly, the invigilator also did not alert children, which they usually do, 30 minutes before the end time. The invigilator only alerted students when the last five minutes were left, and also said the clock was slow. This entire episode is very well captured in the CCTV for your information and checking,” Anagha said.
She has demanded reconducting the NEET exam for this group of students so that the children do not lose their valuable year.
