Karnataka: Cop, 55, writes SSLC exams for promotion

KOLAR: A 55-year-old policeman is the cynosure of all eyes at Government Girls Junior College, Kolar, where he’s writing the SSLC exams.
Manjunath (in pic), a resident of Kataripalya, Kolar, and head constable with Karnataka State Reserve Police, is among the 320 candidates privately appearing for the exams. Manjunath discontinued studies in class 7 and joined KSRP. Due to retire at 60, he is appearing for the exams with the hope of passing them and becoming eligible for a promotion.
Sons, friends helped me prepare for exams: Cop
One of his two sons is an animation consultant with an MNC in Bengaluru. The policeman also drew the attention of education minister S Suresh Kumar, who visited the centre on Monday. The minister enquired why Manjunath was taking the exams, said Prasad.
According to KSEEB rules, anyone aged above 15 can write the papers, said SSLC nodal officer AN Nagendra Prasad. The college is a designated private candidate exam centre and candidates from all age groups are sitting for the exams, said Nagaraj, chief superintendent.
Manjunath said he joined KSRP as a constable and was promoted to head constable on the basis of service. If he clears the exams, he’ll be promoted to the rank of assistant sub-inspector. “I was assisted by my sons and a few friends in preparing for the exams. I have done fairly well in five papers,” he said.
A 44-year-old horticulture employee, Murali, is also among the examinees. The class 6 dropout is looking at passing the exams so that his services are regularised.