Dept plugs security loopholes ahead of II PU exams

Issues guidelines to officials, warns action against violators

Ahead of the II PU exams and in the wake of the CID report on PU question paper leak during the 2012 annual exams, the Department of Pre-university Education (DPUE) has strengthened the security measures to ensure there is no scope for irregularities.

The officials involved in exam monitoring have been issued a 25-point guideline warning them of action under the Education Act, 1983, if they are found indulging in irregularities, according to DPUE director Rame Gowda. The II PU board exams are scheduled to begin on March 13. 

The CID report, which was submitted to the government in January this year, points out the involvement of staff in the treasury department, apart from lecturers from certain colleges. Treasury department officials told Deccan Herald that they too have issued directions to the staff and will initiate action against any official found involved in malpractice.

Based on the CID report, a departmental inquiry would soon be initiated against the officials allegedly involved in the paper leak scam. The DPUE, on its part, has noted that most of the irregularities pertain to missing answerscripts, missing extra sheets in the answerscripts and fudging of register numbers.

 A circular by the DPUE said: “It has come to the notice of the department that some of the lecturers deployed for invigilation work are going absent and are not co-operating with the superintendents.” 

Also, the officials concerned have been asked not to depute an invigilator to an exam centre if any of his/her relatives are taking the exam in the same centre. The director noted in the circular that there have been several complaints from students about extra sheets going missing. The examiners have been asked to maintain detailed records of all the extra sheets and have been warned of stringent action if they mismanage the scripts. 

“This time examiners have to take care of both the new scheme and the old scheme. Basically, only PCMB students will be writing the exam for the new scheme. Others will be writing it for the old scheme. We have given instructions to the invigilators to keep these answer bundles separately and not mix them up,” said Narasimha Naik, Deputy Director (Examination), DPUE.