KPSC answer scripts burnt to cover up wrongdoing

Fact-finding panel throws more light on irregularities

The controversial decision to burn the answer sheets of the year 1999 has now returned to haunt the Karnataka Public service Commission (KPSC). The High Court appointed fact finding committee has found that this was done to destroy the evidence of those candidates whose marks were tampered with by KPSC to help them get plum posts.

The mysterious decision by KPSC in the year 2007 to destroy the answer scripts of 1999 batch has found an answer now as the committee appointed by the High Court says that marks of several candidates were tampered with to help them during the revaluation.In a copy of the report available with Deccan Herald, the committee has said that there were discrepancies in taking average marks.

“From the computer generated data provided by the KPSC, the petitioners have found that a system of three tier evaluation of answer scripts has been adopted. Evaluation by the first examiner, and then random evaluation by the second examiner if the marks difference is more than 32, then a third evaluation was supposed to have been done.

It is also informed by the KPSC that the average of the best of the two scores (as between three evaluation) would be taken as final marks. But this procedure has no basis in rules of the guidelines of KPSC. There have been discrepancies in taking the average and in some cases only the marks of one evaluation is taken for consideration. This is done arbitrarily,” the report says.

According to the committee, several candidates were awarded more marks. Accordingly Nanjundegowda (reg no 563876) now appointed as tahsildar was awarded 23 marks in General Studies paper two. Geeta Koulgi (no 609743) appointed tahsildar was awarded 31 marks for General Studies paper one, Kusuma Latha, (503283) appointed Assistant Director of Land Records was awarded 2.7 marks in History and 1.5 marks in General Studies.

 Four marks were awarded to Poornima P V, tahsildar (no 509200) in General Studies one, Vasantha Kumar P (no 500479), tahsildar, was awarded five marks, Shankarappa Wanikar (602098), now working as tahsildar was awarded 5.5 marks in General Studies paper two. There are others who have been awarded between one and two marks.

“KPSC destroyed answer scripts of 1999 batch on December 6, 2007. Petitioner did not get an opportunity to look into original answer scripts. More than 104 cases are pending in various courts and the committee is of the opinion that destruction of answer scripts amounts to destruction of evidence,” the report says.

Devraj D, (502181) working as DySP, was awarded 150 marks by tampering it as per the instructions of the then Chairman H N Krishna. He had scored 70 marks in personality test.