Candidate clicks photo of question paper during HRTC conductors’ exam; caught

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 18 

Commotion was caused as the question paper for the post of conductors in Himachal Pradesh Road Transport Corporation was “leaked” by a candidate who allegedly clicked the photograph of the paper during examination at Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) centre and forwarded it.

The examination was held for 568 posts at 304 centres from 10 am to 12 pm today in which thousands of candidates appeared. The invigilator spotted the candidate who was sitting idle, presumably “waiting for the answers”.

The invigilator got suspicious and during a search recovered a mobile phone and found a picture of question paper (series B) on the cell phone and reported the matter to the police.

A case has been registered under Section 420 of the Malpractices Act and IPC and mobile, answer sheet and other record of the candidate have been taken into custody. The said person, hailing from Rohru in Shimla district, has been detained by the police for questioning, Shimla SP Mohit Chawla said.

Though it is yet to be ascertained whether it is a case of cheating or paper leak, the Congress has demanded cancellation of the paper. Questions are being raised that how a candidate was able to take a mobile phone inside the examination centre despite of checking.

Aspirants were upset that the examination might be cancelled due to the cheating by one candidate.

Taking cognisance of the matter, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said the guilty persons will not be spared at any cost and strong legal action would be taken against them. He added that the government would ensure complete transparency in the written examinations so that such incidents do not happen in the future.

Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.