II PU re-exam on March 29

The re-examination for students of second year PU chemistry paper that was leaked, will be held on March 29 between 9 am and 12:15 pm.

The decision by the Department of PU Education (DPUE) on Tuesday came even as nearly 200 students and parents protested outside its office in Malleswaram, opposing re-exam. The state government ordered a Criminal Investigation Department (CID) probe into the question paper leak. Home Minister G Parameshwara informed the Legislative Council that the probe was ordered on the request of Minister of State for Primary and Secondary Education Kimmane Rathnakar.

Rathnakar, however, ruled out re-examination for II PU mathematics paper, which students had complained was tough. He said the questions were in conformity with NCERT syllabus adopted by the PU board. Opposition members said rumours were rife that most of the II PU exam question papers this year had leaked.

The Malleswaram police, who had started a probe following a complaint by DPUE on Monday night, said the leaked paper was circulated probably on WhatsApp and by email. Probe into the source of these messages would help in tracing those responsible for the leak.”

Aditya, a student waiting outside the PU department’s office from 1 pm to 6.30 pm, said: “We want the re-examination to be cancelled. Why should I and other students be punished for the incompetence of the PU board. It is their responsibility to ensure that there are no leaks.”

Another protesting student spoke in the same vein. "We  studied very hard and wrote the exam; these people do not have any concern for us. We do not want a re-exam,” he declared. If at all a re-exam is held, it should be for the Mathematics paper, he added. “There were 35 to 37 questions from outside the syllabus and it will impact the results in a big way,” he noted.

K N Ranganath, joint director (examinations), DPUE said: “Only a few students will be benefitted if a re-exam is not conducted. This would be an injustice to majority of the students. I am aware that students will suffer but this is required.”