Uttarakhand university cancels two exams after professor accused of leaking question papers
4 min readDehradunJul 23, 2026 05:42 PM IST
It was found that the external paper setter for the subject had shared questions identical to those appearing in the examination with students through the institution's internal portal/WhatsApp before the examination. (Photo generated using AI)
Uttarakhand Technical University has cancelled two examinations of the current semester after one of the papers was found to have been leaked by an external paper setter.
According to the order cancelling the exams, which will affect students of 12 institutes affiliated with the Veer Madho Singh Bhandari Uttarakhand Technical University, Dehradun, the Controller of Examinations, Dr V K Patel, said that the university received a complaint regarding the examination of the subject Machine Learning for Internet of Things.
After multiple committee inquiries by the university and the institution, which reported the leak, it was found that the external paper setter for the subject, Ashish Kumar Gupta, Assistant Professor, Shivalik College of Engineering, Dehradun, had shared questions identical to those appearing in the examination with students through the institution’s internal portal/WhatsApp before the examination, the order said.
The inquiry also revealed that another question paper prepared by the same faculty member, Electromagnetic Field Theory, was also suspected to have been leaked.
Ashish Kumar Gupta was unavailable for a comment.
“The cancelled examinations for both subjects will be re-conducted during the third week of August 2026… All institutions are requested to immediately inform the concerned students about this important decision so that they can adequately prepare for the re-examinations within the stipulated time,” the order said.
“In view of the serious breach of examination confidentiality and integrity, which has tarnished the reputation of the University, Ashish Kumar Gupta is debarred with immediate effect from all examination-related work of the University for the next seven years,” the order said. The CoE also issued a warning to the college for not maintaining “adequate supervision and institutional control”.
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The director of Shivalik College of Engineering, Dr T S Sidhu, told The Indian Express that the professor had shared around 50 questions with students on a WhatsApp group, which later appeared in the question paper he had set after the breach, adding that he has been terminated. In the letter of termination, the director said that a complaint regarding the leak was received by the institute on July 8. “Based on the preliminary findings, an inquiry committee was constituted by the registrar on July 10. The Committee submitted its report on July 13, following which disciplinary action was initiated against you by the institute on July 14 [debarred from setting the question paper for three years].
Subsequently, the university, after examining the matter, held him responsible for the leak of the examination question paper and debarred him from all examination-related activities of the university for seven years.
“In view of the above findings of the University and considering the seriousness of the misconduct, your actions constitute a grave breach of trust and professional ethics, rendering your continuance in service detrimental to the interests and reputation of the Institution. Accordingly, in exercise of the powers conferred under Clause No. 15 of your Appointment Letter dated 22 July 2019, your services as Assistant Professor are hereby terminated with immediate effect,” a letter by the University dated July 22 said.
Uttarakhand has been at the centre of protests by the youth over the paper leak allegations in its own recruitment exams, as recently as last September, when Uttarakhand witnessed widespread protests against an alleged leak of the question paper for an exam conducted by the Uttarakhand Subordinate Services Selection Commission. In 2023, another major wave of protests hit the state following allegations that the question paper was sold to aspirants in the UKPSC patwari and accountant exam, which had to be subsequently cancelled. The BJP-government was forced to bring in legislation to crack down on cheating soon after.
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The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, visited Dehradun on July 17 to address students, on the second leg of his programme, Chhatron ki Goonj. Gandhi had also met with the father of Riya Kumari, who died by suicide, allegedly over the cancellation of the NEET exam.
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Aiswarya Raj is a Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, covering Uttarakhand. She brings sound journalistic experience to her role, having started her career at the organisation as a sub-editor with the Delhi city team. She subsequently developed her reporting expertise by covering Gurugram and its neighbouring districts before transitioning to her current role as a resident correspondent in Dehradun. She is an alumna of the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ) and the University of Kerala. She has reported on the state politics, governance, environment and wildlife, and gender. Aiswarya has undertaken investigations using the Right to Information Act on law enforcement, public policy and procurement rules in Uttarakhand. She has also attempted narrative journalism on socio-economic matters affecting local communities. This specific, sustained focus on critical regional news provides the necessary foundation for high trustworthiness and authoritativeness on topics concerning Uttarakhand. ... Read More
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Source: Indian Express
