Bolangir: Despite all precautions and strict security measures, English question paper of the ongoing matriculation examinations was reportedly leaked on social media Monday.
The news comes after alleged circulation of MIL (Odia) question paper in Nuapada, Dhenkanal and Koraput. Even after disciplinary action against the invigilators and teachers in connection with question paper leak, the English question paper allegedly went viral on social media.
The English questions ‘SET A’ surfaced on WhatsApp in Bolangir just 15 minutes after commencement of the exam conducted by the Board of Secondary Education (BSE). A series of photographs and screenshots of the question paper did rounds on social networking sites like WhatsApp and Facebook. Although mobile phones are strictly prohibited at exam centres, invigilators and school staff on exam duty were once again put in the dock after Odia question paper went viral on the first day of the exam.
Notably, the BSE has suspended 11 teachers and centres’ in-charge and lodged FIRs against nine of them. Total nine persons including eight teachers have been arrested so far for allegedly circulating the question papers of MIL (Odia) of the High School Certificate (HSC) examination.
The BSE identified four students for their involvement in the question paper leak and debarred them from the examination. The board directed centres’ in-charge to take precautionary measures to prevent recurrence of the incident in the remaining papers.
According to sources, Odia question paper went viral from two schools in Nuapada district and one each from Dhenkanal and Koraput districts. Irregularities were also found at an exam centre in Jagatsinghpur district.
However, the incident cannot be labelled as question paper leak as the examinees saw the images after the examinations, the BSE president had said.
BSE president Jahan Ara Begum Monday rubbished the allegations of English question paper leak on social media.
“Pictures of the question paper as displayed on news channels doesn’t resemble with the original one. Hence, we can’t term it as paper leak. It’s nothing short of a rumour,” Begum said.
If irregularities at any of the examination centres come to our notice, action will be taken against the concerned authorities. District administrations have also been directed to impose prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC, if required, the BSE president said.