Suspended CBSE official flouted rules on breaking question papers' seals
By Express News Service | Published: 03rd April 2018 07:04 AM |
Last Updated: 03rd April 2018 07:04 AM | A+A A- |
The CBSE examination paper leak that has affected lakhs of students across the country and abroad has come as a rude shock to not only the students but also to their parents. ( Shekhar Yadav | EPS)
NEW DELHI: K S Rana, a CBSE official who has been suspended in the paper leak case, flouted norms that require breaking of seals of question papers at a prescribed time in the presence of only authorised persons, sources said on Monday.
Sources in the Union human resources development ministry said that Rana, who was deployed as a supervisor at an examination centre in Bawana in Delhi, was required to oversee that seals of question papers which reached the centre in the morning on the day of the examination were intact till the specified time.
“In the initial investigations, it has, however, been found that Rana was not present at the centre at the time of opening of the seal,” said an official in the HRD ministry. “Also, a verification document that is required to be maintained after four authorised people—two teachers, a centre superintendent and in-charge—have confirmed it and put their signature was missing, which is a grave issue,” the official said.
On Sunday evening, the school education secretary had tweeted: “On the direction of the HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar to take swift action against culprits, the Board has suspended K S Rana, the official found lax in supervising examination centre (0859) with immediate effect.”
“A formal inquiry has been instituted,” he had written. Officials in the ministry also said that even though doing away with multiple sets of question papers was being seen as a reason for the leak, states had wanted the same set of papers throughout India as question papers in Delhi were thought to be easier than those for the rest of India.
Meanwhile, the National Human Rights Commission on Monday sent notices to the HRD ministry, the CBSE, and the Delhi Police chief over the leak of question papers of two subjects, seeking a detailed report in four weeks.
SC to hear petitions challenging retests
The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear petitions challenging the CBSE’s decision to reconduct Mathematics and Economics exams for Class 10 and 12 students, respectively, after the question papers were allegedly leaked. A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra said that since many petitions had been filed on the issue, it would list them for hearing on April 4.
