Medical and dental college admission issue

The Health Directorate announced the results of this year's medical and dental college admission tests, the leaked question papers of which had allegedly started to circulate in different social networking sites on the night of the exam. This year over 2,000 students have scored more than 80, which is about the highest mark in last year's admission test! Everything points to a serious discrepancy in the examination procedure. Five persons, which also includes a University Grants Commission official, have been arrested.    

It is befuddling as to why the Health Directorate had to announce the results so hastily, especially when a controversy raged over the test papers. 

Meanwhile, the High Court has rejected a writ petition for cancellation of the admission tests. The attorney general, however, has told the court an investigation will be conducted on the allegations of question paper leak.

Of late, leakage of public exam question papers has become so rampant that it will not be long before students feel discouraged to study hard. This is a serious obstacle to any effort to bring about a meritocratic society, where one's caliber alone will decide one's future. This is especially true for the medical and dental college admission tests, which literally decide the fate of the nation's health. It is time that the government formed an inquiry committee to probe into the alleged question paper leak. Also, the masterminds behind such crimes must be handed down exemplary punishment.