Baishali Mukherjee

After the prolonged hunger strike and sit-ins by the junior doctors of West Bengal since August 9, after the brutal rape and murder of the 31 year old trainee doctor in the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, chief minister Mamata Banerjee accepted the 10-point demands placed by the protecting medics. Allegations had been raised that special privileges were given to close associates of the North Bengal lobby in the examination hall. It was also claimed that many students would not even score 10% marks if the exams are conducted transparently . The doctors who raised concerns about the malpractice of unqualified students who do not attend classes for several years receiving MBBS degrees, demanded stringent measures to introduce transparency in the MBBS examination system. 

The accounts of CBI and that of the protesting junior doctors of the state also revealed that the ‘North Bengal Lobby’ reportedly gained significant influence in the last decade, dictating key decisions regarding transfers, recruitment, and promotions within the West Bengal Department of Health and Welfare, despite having no official affiliation. They also enjoy extra-constitutional power, exemplified by the controversial R.G. Kar principal Dr. Sandip Ghosh, a key member of the lobby. The investigation also points towards Ghosh operating a mafia-like racket indulging in illegal body trafficking and biomedical waste disposal, with the help of Dr. Sudipto Roy, TMC MLA and head of West Bengal Medical Council, which raised questions on his connections with the state government. However, the fact that many doctors, including 18 working in government-run hospitals in North Bengal, have left service in recent times due to unfavorable workplace conditions, clearly indicate that while R.G. Kar is the epicenter of irregularities, the rot has pervaded medical education of the state’s 34 medical colleges which enroll 5125 students.

Addressing these concerns, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced strict measures, including live streaming during exams. Additionally, an SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) has been prepared, involving both junior students and faculty members.

Accordingly, the West Bengal University of Health Sciences (WBUHS) has started implementing new methods for conducting MBBS exams in the state’s 34  medical colleges. As per the standard operating procedures (SOPs) created under the guidance of Banerjee, who is also in charge of the health department, MBBS exams in the state will henceforth be conducted under CCTV surveillance which will also  live-streamed for additional certainty of transparency by allowing senior authorities to monitor the proceedings of the exam day in real time. 

Approximately 6,000 candidates are appearing for the exam this time. Before entering the exam venue, candidates will be checked using a metal detector. Live streaming of the examination place through CCTV cameras will begin 24 hours prior to the time of the exam. The footage of the examination day from the CCTV will be stored for a minimum of one year. Before the exam begins, the principal will download the question papers in the presence of an observer. Each exam paper will feature a QR code. After the exam, the answer sheets will be transported in biometric-locked trunks by the postal department. The examiners will evaluate the answer sheets at the university itself. Moreover, students’ names will not be mentioned in the answer sheets which in turn would use barcodes for identification of the candidates. Changes have been introduced in the seating arrangements as well. Seats will be arranged in an alternating odd-even pattern to thwart the practice of copying among students.

Also read: Bengal: Hold Madhyamik exam CCTV footage until results are announced