DR B R Ambedkar National Institute of Technology Jalandhar

Jalandhar (Punjab) INDIA-144011

Guidelines for UM (Unfair Means) cases

Following are the Unfair Means regulations of Dr. B R Ambedkar NIT Jalandhar, applicable to all the
examinations (Minors, End-semester, Carry etc.) conducted centrally or by individual teacher:

1. What constitutes an UM case?

A student necessarily need not be involved in cheating to be viewed as a case of UM. Intentional act or even
unintentional mistake of noncompliance of instruction s/guidelines for the examination will be considered as
UM.

2 . Actions by the Invigilator on detecting an UM case

On detecting an UM case, the invigilator will report the matter to the examination office immediately and will
proceed as per guidelines given below:
(a) As soon as a student is suspected by the invigilator or member of the flying squad or any other
authorised person of having resorted to unfair means, he/she shall immediately take possession of the
answer book along with the relevant material found with the student. The papers, notes, books,
electronic devices or any other prohibited material found in possession of the student shall be duly
signed by the student and the invigilator, sealed and attached with the seized answer-book in presence of
the student.
If the student is found to have written something on the body part or anywhere else, a photo of same
may be taken on the available camera/mobile-phone-camera etc.
In case student indulge in UM case other than possession of unauthorized material like talking to fellow
student, attempting to copy form fellow student, allowing fellow student to copy, discussing answer with
fellow student or any other person outside the hall etc., the nature of offence must be d uly recorded by
the invigilator.
(b) The invigilator will get the prescribed form for unfair means filled and signed by the student and give
his/ her comments on the same, in prescribed place. In case, the UM case is detected by member of the
flying squad or any other authorized person, the duly signed comments of the said official will also be
obtained by the invigilator on the prescribed form.
(c) After completing all the above formalities, the confiscated answer book will be marked as I and a fresh
answer-book shall be given to the student for completing the examination. The freshly issued answer
book will be marked as II.
(d) If the student does not hand over the relevant material and/or refuses to fill up and sign the prescribed
form/documents, the same shall be recorded on the prescribed form by the invigilator. In this case, co -
invigilator may sign as a witness to the event. In case there is no co -invigilator, invigilator will
immediately call AR (academics), any of the Associate Deans (academics), PI -exam/COE or an official
from examination office to witness the event.
(e) No extra time will be given for completing the examination as a result of this procedure.
(f) After examination is over the invigilator shall deliver the following to the PI-exam /COE in an envelope
a. Answer books, duly marked as I (confiscated copy) and II (freshly issued copy)
 b. The confiscated material found in possession of the student duly signed by the student and the
invigilator in a sealed envelope
c. The prescribed UMC form duly filled and signed by the invigilator and witness, in the case
mentioned in 2(d).

3 . Categories of offences and punishments

Category Nature of Offence Action to be Taken

of
Offence
I If during the examination hours (theory/practical), a student is found The answer to the
a) whispering/talking to another student in the examination-hall, running question
b) whispering/talking to a person/another student outside the will be crossed with
examination-hall while going to the urinal, for drinking water etc. red pen. This action
will be taken on the
spot by the
invigilator. The
Note: The provision 2(c) is not applicable in this case. invigilator will put
his/her signature,
name and
department name
after the crossed
answer.
The student will not
attempt this question
thereafter. If
evaluators find a
question crossed
with red pen
attempted again,
he/she will not
evaluate it.
II (i) If during the examination (Theory /practical), a student The first answer-
a) Unnecessarily argues or disobeys with invigilation or other book (marked I) to
examination staff, be withdrawn and
b) writes solutions either on the question paper or anywhere else except cancelled; and the
the answer sheet, second answer-book
c) changes the seat without the permission of PI-exam/COE/Invigilator (marked II) to be
or occupies a seat not allotted to him/her, provided and
d) writes abusive or obscene language in the answer book/question evaluated.
paper.
(ii) Repeating of offences of Category -I.
III (i) If during the examination s (Theory/practical) a student is found in The said theory or
possession of any of the items listed below but it is established that he/she practical
has not used it. examination of the
 a) any hand written or photocopied or printed material or notes or torn concerned paper to
pages of books, be cancelled.
b) material written on any part of the body/ clothing or instrument box
or instruments such as set square, scale etc.,
c) notes written on chair, table, desk or any other furniture items or
room walls, floor etc.,
d) an ordinary mobile phone with or without material stored in it,
e) a smart mobile phone; programmable calculator or any other storage
device or blue tooth based communication device etc.
(ii) If during the examination s (Theory/practical) a student is found guilty of
hiding/placing notes or books or any other aid anywhere inside or outside
the examination hall.
(iii) In case of practical examination, presenting the examiner a practical or
class work note book not prepared by him/her.
(iv) If a student is found attempting to influence the examiner by an appeal
in the answer-book
(v) Repeating of offences of Category -II.
IV (i) If during the examination (Theory /practical) a student is found to be The said theory or
a) copying practical
i. using any means enlisted in clause 3.III(i), examination of the
ii. by consulting notes or books (as per clause 3.III(ii)) while concerned paper to
being outside/inside the examination hall during examination be cancelled an d
hours, penalty of
iii. by passing on a copy of question(s) set in paper or a solution Rs.10, 000/-, which
there of to anyone, excluding the invigilators. need to be paid
b) receiving help from or giving help to another student through some before appearing in
written material/ electronic device pertaining to the questions set in next scheduled
the paper concerned. examination.
c) allow ing any other student to copy from his/her answer-book.
d) exchanging question papers/ answer sheets during the examination
e) swallowing or destroying any note or paper or any other material
found on /with him/her.
(ii) Repeating of offences of Category -III.
V (i) A student is found guilty of having made previous arrangement through All the th eory
the help of any person, student, supervisory or ministerial staff of the examination for that
institute or some other agency for semester to be
a) possession of the solution of a question or questions set in the paper, cancelled and
b) obtaining help during the examination in con nection with the penalty of
question paper, Rs.10, 000, which
c) communicating or attempting to communicate directly or through need to be paid
someone else with the examiner or anybody connected with the before appearing in
institute examination for influencing them in the awards of next scheduled
marks/grades. examination.
(ii) Repeating of offences of Category -IV.
VI (i) A student is found guilty of any of the following: All the theory
 a) smuggling in an answer-book, taking out or arranging to send out an examinations for the
answer-book, semester to be
b) writing deliberately another student’s roll number/enrollment cancelled and the
number in his/her answer sheet, student to be
c) leaving the examination hall without delivering the answer sheet to debarred from
the invigilator or part thereof and taking it away, appearing at all
d) tearing own or other student’s answer sheet or part thereof, institute
e) serious misconduct or non -compliance with the instructions of the examinations during
PI-exam/COE or invigilators inside or outside the examination hall the next one
before, during or after the examination, semester.
f) misbehaving with the Examination Staff/Flying Squad inside or
outside the examination hall before, during or after the examination.
g) tempers marks during answer showing,
h) coming to the examination hall under the influence of alcoholic drink
or prohibited narcotics.
(ii) Repeating of offences of Category -V.
VII (i) Impersonation by a student of this Institute For both th e
(ii) Repeating of offences of Category -VI. students involved,
all the theory
examinations for the
semester to be
cancelled and both
to be debarred from
appearing at all
institute
examinations during
the next one
semester.
VIII Cases not covered by the above guidelines To be decided by the
director upon the
recommendation of
UMC committee.
IX A student/person , who is not a candidate for any examination, is found To be dealt with as
committing or abetting in committal of any of the offences mentioned per law in an
above. appropriate manner.

4 . Constitution of UMC committee

The UMC Committee will be appointed by the Director to enquire into the UM cases. Composition of the
committee shall be:

1. Dean Academics Chairman

2. Prof nominated by the Director (at least one) Member
3. PI-exam/COE/AD(Exam) Member
4. HoD or Subject expert of the concerned department nominated by HoD Member
5. Concerned Associate Dean (academics) Member
 6. Concerned Invigilator(s)/Member(s) of Flying Squad Member
At least one member to be woman.

5. Convening of UMC committee meeting

The UMC committee shall thoroughly examine the UMC cases on the basis of the material and documents
placed and give hearing to the concerned student, the concerned invigilator(s) and other official(s), if any. It
shall submit its recommendation after laying down clearly the nature of the offence to the Director for
consideration and approval. Necessary orders will be issued to the student by PI-exam/COE as per the decision
of the UMC committee duly approved by the Director.

In case a student is not found guilty, his both answer sheets (marked I and II) will be released for evaluation and
result will be declared.

6. Important
(i) The candidate can appeal against the decision of UMC committee to the Director of the Institute wit hin
15 days of the receipt of the copy of the decision .
(ii) The Director may appoint a UMC review committee and may send the case to it for review of the
decisions of the UMC committee, depending upon the merits of the case under extenuating
circumstances.
(iii) The decision of the UMC review committee will be submitted to the director for consideration and
approval. Necessary orders will be issued to the student by PI-exam/COE as per the decision of the
UMC committee duly approved by the Director.