BENGALURU: The rumours of a question paper leak which were doing rounds on social media platforms on Monday during the ongoing PU II final exams for Accountancy subject, created panic among students, parents and department officials for a while.
Based on the image circulated through WhatsApp from an examination centre in Raichur, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Tanveer Sait ordered an inquiry into the matter by the Raichur SP. The district police authorities took a part-time lecturer into custody later in the day.
As per the information available from police and the Department of Pre University Education, Siddanagoud, a part time lecturer working with a private PU college in Manvi taluk somehow entered the examination centre posing as a member of a flying squad.
Confirming this, Sait said, “It was not a paper leak. Even the inquiry by the Raichur SP says the same. It is a mischief and none of the students benefited from it as all the students were inside the examination centre. Only one out of the 18 pages was circulated on social media.”
Sait added that the preliminary inquiry revealed that Siddanagoud allegedly entered SRSVS PU College in Manvi posing as a flying squad member.
“He clicked a picture and sent it on WhatsApp to Mahesh, the principal of Kalinga PU College, Manvi. Later it was sent to Sharanabasappa who also works in the same college,” said Sait.
“The department has lodged a police complaint against Siddanagoud, Mahesh and Sharanabasappa,” the minister said.
What happened?
The examination started on 10.15 am and around 12.30 pm, the image of the question paper started circulating on WhatsApp. Later, it was being reported in the media as a question paper leak.
C Shika, Director, Department of Pre university Education (PUE) said, “Information about the incident was received by the Raichur DC at 12.30 pm, two hours after the exam started. It’s not a leak as all students enter the exam hall by 10.15 am. Out of so many pages, only one page has come out on WhatsApp. It’s a mischief by miscreants and students need not pay heed to any rumours.”
No phones for invigilators
The Department of PUE has now issued a circular banning the use of mobile phones by invigilators inside the exam hall. Only the chief superintendent of the exam centre is allowed to use a mobile phone, the circular states.
It is also stated that students who leave the exam hall before 1.30 pm, should not be allowed to take the question paper along with them. Further, the chief superintendent will be held responsible if any case of malpractice involving mobile phones or other gadgets is reported, the circular adds.
Though the department has introduced Secured Examination System this year to avoid paper leaks, it appears that it has not concentrated on invigilators carrying electronic gadgets inside the hall.