University of Calicut for examination of charges related to answer script storage project

University of Calicut | Photo credit: File photo

P. Raveendran, Vice-Chancellor, University of Calicut, has ordered an inquiry into allegations of financial irregularities, lapses in utilization of funds and procedural failures surrounding the implementation of the Automated Storage and Retrieval System, an answer storage project launched in 2021 under the Center for Examination Automation and Management.

The Revenue Officer was asked to conduct a detailed investigation. Instrumentation Engineer T. Sajid and Section Director Student Welfare Department K. Suresh Kumar will assist the officer.

University sources said on Sunday (November 1) that the project was launched to store the evaluated answer scripts securely and ensure that they can be retrieved quickly if needed. However, allegations of irregularities in its implementation and related financial transactions surfaced right from the start. P. Rasheed Ahmed, the current Vice-Chancellor, who was a member of the Syndicate at the time, filed a petition in the Kerala High Court to appoint the then Vice-Chancellor MK Jayaraj as a respondent.

The investigation is based on a complaint filed by CP Muhammed Jaseel on 28 September 2026 and a directive issued by Mr. Raveendran on 26 October 2026. The complainant pointed out that the total cost of the project exceeded ₹25 million. Despite an initial outlay of over ₹10 crore on racks and associated infrastructure for storing answer scripts, it did not become fully functional. The complaint also stated that funds for this purpose were sanctioned by overcoming the objections raised by the revenue officer.

Mr. Jaseel alleged that the system also failed to achieve the expected efficiency in conducting examinations and declaring results. Additionally, employees were still forced to rely on manual processes to handle and retrieve response scripts.

University officials said the investigation will cover tenders related to the project, technical commission recommendations, contracts, expenditures, financial transactions, certificates of completion, equipment installation and actual operational performance of the system.

Published – 01 Nov 2026 20:06 IST