Exam papers go missing, pre-board cancelled

Rohtak, January 29

The Class X Sanskrit and physical education pre-board exam slated to be held today was cancelled across the state after several question papers of Class X and XII were found missing from the Government Senior Secondary School for Boys at Atail village in Rohtak district late last evening.

As per the FIR registered under sections 380 and 454 of the IPC, 11 pre-board papers of history and one paper each of English and mathematics of Class X were found missing. Apart from these, papers of other subjects of Classes X and XII were found lying in the open.

“It seems the room in which the question papers were stored was left unlocked. The papers were found lying on slabs inside the room. We have informed the Education Department authorities about this for necessary action,” said Sampla SHO Inspector Kulbeer Singh.

Inquiries revealed that the school building does not have a boundary wall on one side, no regular watchman or CCTV cameras. Preliminary investigation by the police also indicated a major security lapse in safe-keeping of the papers.

Rohtak District Education Officer (DEO) Parmeshwari Hooda said a report had been sent to the state authorities and an inquiry was on to fix responsibility for the lapse, following which appropriate action would be taken.

Principal Surender Lakra said the school building did not have a boundary wall on one side and authorities were being urged to do the needful. “There is no regular watchman at the school. A water-carrier has been assigned the responsibility to guard the school premises after working hours, but it seems he was not on duty when the theft took place,” he said.

The Principal further maintained that he had assigned exam related responsibilities to Surender Dhaka, a school lecturer. Lakra, however, refused to comment on whether the room in which the question papers were stored was locked or not.

‘Education  Department responsible for safe-keeping’

Board of School Education Chairman Dr Jagbir Singh said the pre-board question-papers were set by the Department of Education, while the Board only gets these printed. “We got the papers printed and handed these over to the Education Department authorities. The responsibility of safe-keeping of the papers and conducting the pre-board exams rests with it,” he said.