KOCHI:A section of candidates who appeared for Kerala PSC’s online exam for English lecturer post, staged a protest alleging partiality and foul play in the conduct of the examination.
The candidates alleged Kerala Public Service Commission granted additional time for candidates who appeared in Thiruvananthapuram, in the name of technical problem.
The first phase exam for lecturership in English (category No 578/2012 NCA (Muslim) category No 715/2014) was conducted at three centres on October 27.
The duration of the exam was 75 minutes and 100 questions were given. However, the exam held in Thiruvanathapuram lasted till 1.30 pm owing to technical problems in the system.
“While the exam was conducted at all centres as per the schedule, candidates in Thiruvananthapuram got extra 75 minutes in the name of disruption due to technical problems. Since the candidates were asked to log out, they got extra time to analyse questions and find better answers and edit answers already entered.
“The PSC conducted an exam in which time and knowledge in the subject are very important in a casual way. Candidates in Thiruvananthapuram were granted an interval of 30 minutes after the exam commenced. PSC acted partially showing injustice to candidates in other centres who answered all questions in the given time. The PSC should conduct a reexamination to keep its credibility. Since online exams have no credibility, the reexam should be conducted manually using OMR sheets,” said a candidate who attended the exam in Ernakulam centre.
However, PSC chairman K S Radhakrishnan said there were no plans to conduct another test.
“There is a provision in the exam manual to grant time for candidates in case of disruption during the exam,” Radhakrishnan said.