Shimla: The move to bring more transparency in the conduct of the Combined Pre-Medical Entrance Test (CPMET) by the Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) has been appreciated but there is still a need to ensure no manipulation of foul play takes place.

The university has decided to provide a student with the photocopy of their OMR answer sheet a few days after the entrance test but only on a payment of Rs. 50. This is being criticized as the same information can be made available with a payment of only Rs. 2 under the guidance of the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

Furthermore, the university will provide the photocopy of the OMR sheet ten days after the Rs. 50 has been paid and that too just before the computer evaluation of the answer sheet is to begin.

Dev Ashish Bhattacharya is and RTI activist who has been working on this issue for quite some time and wants the varsity to follow the example of Uttar Pradesh University that prints a duplicate copy of the OMR answer sheets and candidates are allowed to carry the carbon copy with them after the exam.

He wrote a letter to the Vice chancellor of HPU, Sunil Gupta that said that not only should the candidates be allowed to take the carbon copy home but they should also be told to produce the carbon copy at the time of counselling so that the answers could be cross-checked with the original answer sheet if any foul play was suspected.

Also, to avoid marking the answers later, the line supervisor for the examination hall must ensure that the candidates should cross out all the bubbles in the OMR sheet that they have not darkened. The answer sheet should also be put up online the same day as the exam so the students can assess themselves by comparing it with the carbon copy.

Currently, the university has made the provision for candidates to take home the examination question booklet and put the answer key on the internet as soon as the checking of the OMR answer sheets begins.

The CPMET is going to take place on May 27 this year.