Why Vyapam scam is the real face of Indian corruption

Vyapam is an acronym in Hindi for (Vyavsayik Pariksha Mandal). Now Vyapam has become Vyapar (Commerce). These exams become larger and larger in the aftermath of the 11-judge judgement in TMA Pai (2002) which declared unaided (including minority) institutions would conduct their own (private) exams and state governments could conduct its government exams (eg Vyapam) in MP.

But all the states were greedy and MP amongst the greediest of them all. Various states in the South-coerced private institutions to give up their seats to the government after Inamdar's case (2005) declared government had no automatic legal right to them, but required the consent of the college concerned. Like others, MP wanted 50 per cent of the private colleges quota so that it showed the extent of its patronage over admissions.

Litigation

These matters were litigated and litigated; and are still pending before the SC. Vyapam became the symbol of appropriation of power, opportunity, greed, incompetence and, as we can see, corruption. As it happens "private" tests are better run. But look at Vyapam's expanded empire from just government seats to half of all private college seats as well. Lo and behold!

Vyapam's predecessors began in 1970 for medical admissions, was extended to other disciplines in 1982 and statutorised in 2007 by the MP Professional Examination Board Act 2007. Taking stock of Vyapam's empire in 2004 there were 1,67,686 applicants (in 13 tests), in 2005 11,14,708 applicants (16 tests), in 2006, 1,78,926 applicants (12 tests). It spiked at 35,93,360 (13 tests), climbed in 2012 35,56,316 (in 36 tests), and fell to 20,01,444 (27 tests) in 2014.

An educational extravaganza became an invitation to corruption bonanza. There were three methods of fiddling. Between 2000-12, there are 55 cases of impersonation. The real figure must have been more. This method was brilliant: X's photograph was put on mediocre Y's admit card to get a brilliant result for "Y".

The second method is called the "engine-bogey" system meant the placement in the exam hall was: brilliant student facing the wall, the favoured weak student behind him. This vertical placement could be substituted by the parallel method which facilitated "lean-over-and-cheat".

But in all these variations of this second system meant that brilliant "A" and cheater "B" had to be in the same hall. So, students were transferred to the same city and same hall by corruption. The third system was "you-fill-my-exam" system. The student left his answers blank for an examiner to arrange to fill.

One view is that these tactics were limited to MP. A massive cover up was made by Vyapam, which chief justice Khanwilkar accepted. Examination scripts of a target area were examined. A standard deviation method was devised to knock off those who were guilty by statistical probability.

This meant students were deemed corrupt by statistics. Vyapam and the state government were able to claim they had rectified the problem and corruption had been excised.

Controversy

No more controversy. The students' were now the scapegoats. On statistical probability students who had passed through the course were now retrospectively deprived of any result from their college years. They are now before the SC.

But scapegoating students did not work. Tear down the front facade and you find criminal cockroaches behind it.

Minor cockroaches physically invigilated. Major cockroaches exploited the whole system. The audit of 2007-08 showed irregularities in application forms which may have been destroyed to prevent investigation. Despite protests, a probe was ordered by CM Chouhan . It was chaired by the state joint director and including others, also Satyendra Verma from Kanpur. The suspicions were enormous. Fifteen brilliants who passed out in earlier years were impersonated. Many examinees were named Ashish Yadav. The committee took two years (2007-11) to scapegoat students but showing the extent of the scam. The estimate top bribe of Rs 50,000 increased in evidence from raids to at least one lakh rupees in 2013. Interrogation revealed more. By July 9, there were 140 FIRs, 3,800 accused, 80 absconding and two thousand arrested. Was Rs 25 lakhs paid by each candidate?

Immunity

But where were the big-wigs? The governor recommended names. Now member of Parliament Laxmikant Sharma was then state technical education minister, was involved. His officer on special duty (OSD) Shukla allegedly got Rs 8.5 million. Former OSD Laxmikant Sharma was involved in police recruitment. In Indore, "arranger" Jagdish Sharma ran a racket of impersonators within Vyapam. A roll number scam was operated. In 2015, special task force (STF) implicated the governor for forest guard and contract teacher's exams. He used his immunity.

CM Chouhan was implicated by a whistle blower, given police protection by the Delhi High Court and in Digvijaya's 15-page submission. Then followed some 35 unnatural deaths from top to bottom. Murders, suicides, fear?

What do we do?

(i) The governor should be deprived of his immunity by sacking.

(ii) The CM should resign.

(iii) The deaths probed.

(iv) All the accused be named with publicity and prosecuted.

(v) CBI inquiry of the kind in the 2G scam.

(vi) The students cannot be found ineligible by way of statistical possibility.

Party politics instead of corruption-free Bharat.

What a scam! What a shame!