Teacher booked for Class X paper leak

Nikhila Pant Dhawan

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, March 25

A physical education teacher has been booked for his alleged involvement in Class X PSEB Hindi question paper leak case.

The action has been taken on the basis of a complaint filed by District education Officer (Secondary) Khushvir Singh.

On March 22, the Education Department got to know that photographs of the question paper had been shared on a WhatsApp group from the mobile number of Pushpinder Pal Singh, working at Government Sports School, Ghudda.

After initial inquiry into the matter, Singh was sent back to his original school of posting in Parasram Nagar.

Since the department couldn’t ascertain whether the question paper had been leaked or not, officials deemed it fit to let the examination go on as it was already halfway through.

In his defence, Singh had argued that he had lost his mobile phone in Dhobi Bazaar the previous day and had also reported the matter to the police.

He also produced a copy of the FIR in front of the inquiry committee.

“The teacher had claimed that he was not responsible for the alleged leak and that it was done to malign his image and spoil his career,” principal Bhupinder Singh said.

Teacher’s service terminated

Following initial inquiry into the case by the PSEB, the board has terminated the services of the accused teacher.

PSEB director Balbir Singh said Pushpinder Pal Singh, who was posted at Government School in Parasram Nagar and was working on deputation at Government Sports School, Ghudda, was found to be behind the entire sequence of events.

He said the report for the lost mobile had been registered on March 22, which pointed to a well-thought-out plan to leak the paper, but the plan was foiled before it could cause damage.

A case under Section 420 of the IPC has been registered against the accused.

Paper leak on Whatsapp

• On March 22, the Education Department got to know that photographs of the question paper had been shared on a WhatsApp group from the mobile number of Pushpinder Pal Singh, working at Government Sports School, Ghudda
• After initial inquiry into the matter, Singh was sent back to his original school of posting in Parasram Nagar
• Since the department couldn’t ascertain whether the question paper had been leaked or not, officials deemed it fit to let the examination go on as it was already halfway through
• In his defence, Singh had argued that he had lost his mobile phone in Dhobi Bazaar the previous day and had also reported the matter to the police