Invigilators are going to face a tough task during this year’s Intermediate examination starting February 14.
With memories of last year’s Intermediate topper scam still fresh in people’s mind, the Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) has taken some extraordinary steps to ensure fair conduct of exams and to bring a foolproof system in place to check tampering with answer sheets.
There would be one invigilator for every 25 examinees at each exam centre and he/she would frisk students for chits and other things that can be used to write exams in an unfair manner.
The invigilator would have to give a declaration to the centre superintendent saying nothing objectionable was found. If anything objectionable is found during checks by senior officials, the invigilator concerned would be taken to task.
“We have circulated the declaration form in all the centres where exams will take place. One invigilator would frisk 25 examinees and sign a declaration form that nothing was found in their possession. Despite that if a chit is detected during further checking, action — departmental proceedings or legal action — would be taken,” BSEB chairman Anand Kishor, who is also Patna divisional commissioner, said while addressing invigilators and centre superintendents at SK Memorial Hall on Monday.
The Intermediate exam of science, arts, commerce and vocational courses will end on February 25 and be conducted in two sittings. The first sitting will take place between 9.45am to 1pm and the second one from 1.45pm to 5pm.
Last year’s Intermediate scam had become the national talking point, as average students had topped exams. Similarly, in 2015, visuals of mass copying during matriculation exams had brought disgrace to the state. The BSEB thus has a huge task at hand as it gears up to conduct the exam in 1,274 centres where 12.61 lakh examinees will write the test.
“Videography would be done at the centre,” Kishor said. “Closed-circuit television cameras (CCTV) have been installed at all possible places inside and outside the centre. I’ve also instructed videography of the boundary and to keep an eye on the activities of those who visit centres with the examinees. I would request parents and relatives not to enter the prohibited area as Section 144 of CrPC has been imposed around every exam centre.”
Also, photocopy shops near the centre will remain closed during the exam.
Patna district magistrate Sanjay Kumar Agarwal and senior superintendent of police (SSP) Manu Maharaaj were present. Agarwal said invigilators who catch impersonators will be rewarded. He asked invigilators to closely match the faces of candidates with the photographs on admit cards. He said proper videography would take place when question papers are unsealed.
Patna has 77 examination centres where 68,190 candidates will write the exam. Except magistrates and centre superintendents, nobody will be allowed to carry cellphones or electronic gadgets inside centres; not even police officers and invigilators.
Supplementary
The BSEB chairman announced supplementary exams in May end for those who are unable to take the Intermediate exam beginning on Tuesday due to non-issuance of admit cards. The number of such students is around 1,300.
Exam fee proof
A single bench of the Patna High Court on Monday passed an order allowing Nishu Kumar to write the Intermediate exam beginning on Tuesday. Kumar had filed a petition seeking permission to write the exam as he was not issued admit card. He said he had filled up the form and paid the fee. But appearing for BSEB, principal additional advocate general Lalit Kishore said the petitioner had not deposited the exam fee. The court allowed Kumar to write the exam but asked him to produce evidence he had paid the fee on February 20 when the matter would next come up. He could face adverse action if he fails to provide proof.
