The Chemistry exam that was first scheduled on March 21 was cancelled and postponed after a II PU science student alerted the authorities about the question paper leak.

The II Pre-University chemistry re-examination that was scheduled on Thursday has been cancelled following a question paper leak. Officials in the Department of Pre-University Education (DPUE) have advised students to not come to the examination centres. The > Chemistry exam that was first scheduled on March 21 was cancelled and postponed after a II PU science student alerted the authorities about the question paper leak. Following protests by students and parents, the state government handed over the investigation to the CID. Nearly 1.74 lakh PU students across the State were supposed to write the Chemistry re-exam today.

Re-exam date announced

The re-examination of the II PU Chemistry paper has now been scheduled to April 12. According to a statement issued by Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Kimmane Ratnakar here on Thursday, a three-member committee has been constituted to oversee the smooth conduct of the examinations, including Transport Commissioner Ramegowda and State project director of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan P.C. Jaffer.

The statement said that around 40 officials of the exam section of the Department of Pre-University Education have been suspended with immediate effect. He has also urged the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to speed up investigations into the paper leak.

Department sources told The Hindu that they were intimated about the question paper leak at 3.30 a.m. by CID officials. The CID officials reportedly said that the leak was detected in two places across the State. Three question papers that were doing the rounds were sent by the CID to the DPUE. One of the three papers sent had all the 36 questions of the original question paper.

The CID sleuths who found out and alerted the question paper leak to the PU department in the nick of time, intensified the investigations to ascertain the source of the leak. The officials received around three sets of hand written papers and alerted PU director at around 3 am. One out of four of question papers matched the original papers following which the re exam was cancelled on the day of the scheduled exam, a senior police officer said. The CID officials who strongly suspect that the leak of papers was happening from the treasuries questioned several staff. Now the officials with the help of cyber crime experts trying to track down the mobile from where the paper leak was circulated.

Dharna

The Legislative Assembly witnessed noisy scenes as Opposition members staged a dharna demanding the resignation of Mr. Ratnakar. Leader of the Opposition Jagadish Shettar held the Minister responsible for the question paper leak for the second time in less than 10 days.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Siddaramiah said that a probe would be ordered into the matter and officials involved in the question paper leak would be punished.

Protests intensify

The protests in front of the DPUE intesified with student organisations and political parties joining the demonstration. Despite heavy deployment of police personnel at the spot, the police were unable to control the protestors. Students started pelting stones at the department, thereby damaging glass windows at DPUE. One student reportedly fainted during the protests. Students also refused to take another re-exam. One of the protestors threatened to jump from the DPUE building as there are no officials present to listen to students' plight.

Many second PU students said that they are in a dilemma as they have to appear for JEE offline exam on April 3. "Where do we have the time to prepare for the Chemistry paper again? We spent sleepless night yesterday and studied all night for the exam," said Manaswini V. A., a second year PU student. Students have also started online petitions making the Department of Pre-University Education responsible for their plight. BJP party cadre also joined the protests at DPUE. Former Deputy Chief Minister R. Ashok, MLAs C.T. Ravi, S. Suresh Kumar and C.N. Ashwathnarayan were also present.

WATCH

The > Chemistry exam that was first scheduled on March 21 was cancelled and postponed after a II PU science student alerted the authorities about the question paper leak. Following protests by students and parents, the state government handed over the investigation to the CID.