Will quit if chemistry paper leaks again: Ratnakar

Primary and Secondary Education Minister Kimmane Ratnakar said on Friday that he will tender his resignation if the II PU Chemistry re-examination paper leaked again.

The minister’s response came after the Chemistry re-examination, scheduled for March 31, was put off to April 12 after the paper leaked for the second time.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah here, Ratnakar said all measures would be taken to ensure a smooth conduct of the Chemistry re-examination. The Opposition and agitated students have been demanding the minister’s resignation after the re-exam fiasco on March 31.

“I admit that injustice has been done to students by the pre-university department due to the question paper leaks. I will stay put in Bengaluru for the next 10 days to monitor the examination work. If there are any more lapses, I will tender my resignation,” he said.

He said each of the 40 pre-university department officials and staff suspended on Thursday would be probed by the CID.

“These people were involved in the examination work at one level or the other. Some know the identity of the question paper setters or were involved in sealing the question paper bundles. If investigations reveal that they are not guilty, they will be reinstated,” Ratnakar said.

The CID would also probe lecturers who had been roped in for setting question papers during the last three years but their names would not be made public, the minister said.
He said it was not practical to conduct re-examination only in those districts where there were complaints of question paper leak. “Messages can be forwarded through social media in a matter of seconds,” he noted.

Earlier, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, along with Ratnakar, held a discussion with a three-member committee constituted to oversee the conduct of the April 12 re-examination. The committee headed by Public Instruction Commissioner P C Jaffer comprises Transport Commissioner Ramegowda as member. Ramegowda had earlier served as Pre-University Education department director.