The Jharkhand Academic Council (JAC) after receiving letter from the Principal Secretary, Department of School Education and literacy on March 9 has plunged into action asking respective Deputy Commissioners (DCs) of all 24 districts to keep a strict vigilance on examination centers. Notably, Principal Secretary, AP Singh had issued a directive to officials over complaints of the use of unfair means in ongoing board examinations at a few centers at State Capital.
Several students had written to the Department Secretary asking to immediately intervene into the matter as examination rules are uncontrollably being violated under the Magistrates and officials nose.
Complaints have been received from Girls School, Bundu, PP K College-Ramesh Singh Munda, Mahila College, Xavier College Bundu, Kudadih Girl School, Rahe School, Gram Vikash School, Silli College, Project College, SS+2 High School, Indal School, Ursuline School, Muri, SS High School, Sonahatu.
“A letter defining rules and regulations has been sent to the respective DCs immediately. JAC has also released an appeal letter through different medium. Besides the DCs who is the Chief Examination Controller, the Sub-Divisional Officers (SDOs) and Magistrates are responsible for conducting free and fair examination. Under exam rule -2011, there is a provision of Rs. 2000 fine including six months imprisonment,” said Chairperson JAC, Arvind Singh.
Singh further said that all such examination centers have been sealed from where complaint cases of using unfair mean was received in 2017. “JAC is maintaining events record and will take all necessary steps to curtail unfair practices in the board examination as it comes into notice,” added Singh. However, the The JAC Chairperson admitted that a few districts are facing technical glitches in installing CCTV cameras despite issuing Rs 10 lakh to each DC. Installation of CCTVs was planned by the Department personnel to conduct free and fair examination at all centers.
Meanwhile, DDC Ranchi, Shashi Ranjan who has been given additional charge of DC Ranchi for a while, said, “Officials have been informed to be more vigilant. Also, continuous patrolling at vulnerable examination centers is being carried out on regular days under SDO supervision. As per the enquiry report, nothing serious has happened by far. Flying squads including Magistrates have been ordered to immediately conduct raids at the examination centers where any miscreant activities are found out.”
The Principal Secretary in the letter has mentioned about special vigilance by senior officials, formation of flying squads, gathering digital evidences as a full-proof source, random patrolling of examination centers by senior officials, deputation of women magistrate at each examination centers while completely barring the use of mobile phones and other electronic gadgets by students as well as invigilators.