The Madras High Court has taken a significant step in addressing concerns regarding the authenticity of an exam allegedly conducted by Madras University. Justice N Mala has appointed Senior Advocate A.K. Sriram to conduct an in-depth inquiry into the matter and submit a report by April 20, 2025.
The directive was issued in response to a petition filed by a student, Miss Amanda Miriam Fernandez, who sought a declaration of the results for the History of Communication subject exam, which she claimed was conducted on May 11, 2024. The student had previously filed a petition requesting the University to hold the examination. Her counsel later informed the court that the exam was conducted for seven students, including herself. Based on this submission, the earlier petition was disposed of. However, the student then approached the court again to declare the results.
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When the matter was taken up, the University’s Standing Counsel, Mrs. V. Sudha, denied that any such examination took place. According to the University, the earlier representation made by the student was false. The student, however, firmly maintained that the exam was indeed conducted as claimed.
To support her claim, the petitioner submitted a copy of the question paper for the exam conducted on May 11, 2024. In response, the University’s Standing Counsel argued that the question paper was fabricated and asserted that no exam took place on the specified date. Furthermore, the University contended that while six other students had attended re-do classes and taken the exam in November 2024, the petitioner neither attended classes nor appeared for the examination.
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Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the High Court directed Senior Advocate A.K. Sriram to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter. The appointed Senior Advocate has been granted the following powers:
- To examine the veracity of the petitioner’s claim regarding the conduct of the exam on May 11, 2024.
- To collect relevant WhatsApp messages and University records to verify the student’s claim.
- To interview the petitioner, faculty members, concerned staff, and the six other students with whom the petitioner allegedly took the exam.
- To summon any additional witnesses deemed necessary for the inquiry.
- To ensure that both the petitioner and the University fully cooperate in the investigation.
- To submit a detailed report, along with supporting evidence, to the court by April 20, 2025.
“The learned Senior Counsel shall enquire into the veracity of the contention of the petitioner as to the conduct of the examination on 11.05.2024 as per the question submitted by her,”
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The case, titled Miss. Amanda Miriam Fernandez. R v. The Vice Chancellor, University of Madras (W.P.No.36249 of 2024), has drawn significant attention due to the conflicting claims presented by both parties. The court has scheduled further hearings for April 20, 2025, following the submission of the inquiry report.
This development underscores the importance of transparency and due diligence in academic institutions. The court’s intervention aims to ensure fairness and uphold the credibility of the examination process at Madras University. The outcome of the inquiry will play a crucial role in determining the legitimacy of the student’s claim and addressing any potential discrepancies in the examination system.
