Bengaluru: More than 800 II PUC students, who had paid Rs 2,000 to Rs 7,000 for the II PUC Chemistry question paper, leading to the postponement of exams twice, are expected to lose four precious years of their studies.
State Pre-University Department officials said that once they receive the CID investigation report on the question paper leak, they will withhold the exam results of those students, who bought question papers from anti-social elements.
PU Department Director Ramegowda told Deccan Chronicle that buying a question paper by paying money is equivalent to examination malpractice. “Once we receive the CID report with proof, we will cancel the examination results of all those students,” he said.
Department officials said that the guilty students could be barred from appearing for exams for four years. “The PU Department will form a committee once it receives the CID report. The committee will recommend the quantum of punishment for the accused students. It will most likely be cancellation of the ongoing examination results and a ban on them for writing exams for four years," an officer said.
The officials said that most of these students are from Bengaluru. “Some are also from Mangaluru, Ballari etc. They paid money to middlemen and got the question papers through WhatsApp,” an officer said.
Govt may invoke ESMA against protesting PU lecturers
The state government is likely to impose the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) against II PUC lecturers, who are boycotting valuation-related works, sources in the Department of Pre-University Education said.
As per schedule, the valuation work should have begun on April 3. But till now, lecturers have not turned up. “We are waiting for government instruction in this regard,” said an officer.
“The valuation work is scheduled to be carried out in seven cities, including Bengaluru. By boycotting valuation, lecturers are creating panic among II PU students who are already disturbed by the series of incidents related to question paper leaks,” he said.
PU Lecturers’ Union president Thimmaiah Purle said that they will not withdraw the strike even if the state government imposes ESMA. “I was sent to jail several times. I do not bother about this ESMA threat. Let government impose it,” he said.
Though all lecturers have boycotted the valuation work, many feel that it is unethical put off valuation work and create panic among students. “The union has imposed the boycott on all. It is very difficult to see the agony of the students. The government should not allow this,” said a lecturer, on condition of anonymity. PU Director Ramegowda denied any move to invoke ESMA against the agitating lecturers.
Plan to suspend WhatsApp on exam day?
What could be termed an innocuous statement by the Home Minister Dr G. Parameshwar on Tuesday morning triggered a raging debate on Monday.
Responding to a question on banning WhatsApp, Dr Parameshwar said, “Your (media) suggestion is well taken. We will see what can be done about it.”
In the evening, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Kimmane Rathnakar said he would speak to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Dr Parameshwar on suspending WhatsApp and mobile internet services a day before and on the day of second PUC Chemistry paper test on April 12.
