Nodal officer blamed for loss of answer scripts

The nodal officer in charge of the evaluation centre at Basaveshwar High School in Shimoga will be held responsible for the loss of answer scripts in a fire, according to Director of Karnataka State Secondary Education Examination Board Venkateshaiah.

More than 12 bundles of Hindi examination answer scripts were burnt on Thursday evening.
Addressing mediapersons on Friday after inspecting the room were the mishap took place, he said the nodal officer should have taken precautionary measures. Investigations revealed that a coconut frond had caught fire from sparks while a window of the room where the answer scripts were kept, was being welded. The burning frond fell inside the room triggering fire. Such repair works should be undertaken either in advance or under supervision, Venkateshaiah said.

He said a total of 4,468 Hindi examination answer scripts from Mysore district were kept in the room. Of them, 2,775 answer scripts from 14 examination centres were destroyed. The remaining 1,693 answer scripts are intact.

A detailed report will be submitted to the Examination Board in this regard on April 18. The Board will decide on conducting re-examinations, the director said.

Despite the fire, the school will remain as a evaluation centre, Venkateshaiah said. The evaluation of the answer scripts will commence on April 18, as scheduled.

Apart from Basaveshwar High School, evaluation will also take place at the Kasturba High School, Government Pre-University College on B H Road, NES High School, DVS College and Mary Emaculate High School.

Deputy Director of Department of Public Instructions Paramashivappa and Taluk Block Education Officer T N Kamalakar were present.