Exam fees collected but no remuneration for evaluation: Professor from Tirunelveli not returning LLB answer sheets

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A teacher in Tamil Nadu has not returned 160 answer sheets of LLB after not receiving the remuneration for evaluation. The answer sheets of Kerala University are not being returned by a professor at Tirunelveli Law College. These are the answer sheets for various semesters of three-year and five-year LLB.

The university had repeatedly requested the return of the October answer sheets. However, the teacher informed that she would not give them until the dues were paid. Subsequently, a team led by the Assistant Registrar went to Tamil Nadu yesterday to collect the answer sheets. The university has not been paying the evaluation staff for the past three years. The remuneration is Rs 30 per paper. The amount for this is being collected from the students in the form of examination fees.

Answer sheets are being sent to teachers outside the jurisdiction of the University of Kerala for revaluation. The answer sheets were sent to the teacher by registered mail after she expressed interest. The university is estimating how much money the teacher has to be paid.

Evaluation is part of the job

There was an interim order of the High Court making evaluation part of the job for teachers who are paid on the UGC scale. The Accountant General also opposed the payment of remuneration. The syndicate later decided not to pay remuneration. Self-financing colleges do not pay salaries on the UGC scale. Most of the LLB and MBA colleges are in the self-financing sector. High fees are charged for revaluation. The university clarified that a decision will be taken in the next syndicate meeting to pay remuneration to teachers.

Unable to find teachers

• There is a situation where teachers are not available for the evaluation of MBA, LLB and engineering exams.
• Teachers from outside Kerala are assigned for the LLB revaluation.
• Teachers are reluctant to evaluate answer sheets due to lack of remuneration.