Wednesday, Aug 25, 2010
Hyderabad: Bowing to pressure from students and also analysing the performance of candidates in different subjects, Osmania University has decided to relax the minimum qualifying mark by five marks in the recently held Ph.D eligibility test.

The decision was taken after a thorough discussion in the Standing Committee meeting held on Monday. The results declared a month back created furore with students alleging that those active in the separate Telangana movement were deliberately declared ineligible. In fact, some protesting students totally damaged the office of Controller of Examinations apart from torching the Directorate of Admissions office. However, the Vice-Chancellor, T. Tirupati Rao then said the valuation was fair and even offered third party valuation of scripts by whoever the students suggested. P.L. Vishweshwer Rao, Dean, Faculty of Arts and a member of the Standing Committee said the decision to reduce marks was taken after a thorough discussion.

He reminded that the eligibility test was conducted for the first time after the new UGC guidelines came in and OU is the only university to have done that. Students were new to the system and found the descriptive mode a bit difficult.