Stern Stand: Jharkhand Academic Council

Ranchi, Feb. 17: Just three days before the matriculation and intermediate examinations, the Jharkhand Academic Council (JAC) has pulled up around 20 schools and 12 intermediate colleges for submitting fake documents and providing false information regarding candidates. The exams will begin from Saturday.

Most of these students are external candidates while two are regular. The school and college principals have been fined Rs 1,000 each and the students Rs 500. They also had to submit an undertaking that they would not indulge in such fraudulent deeds in the future or else the council will refer the matter to the government.

“We scrutinised the documents of the external students following reports that some of them had submitted forged documents to appear for the matriculation examination. The scrutiny revealed that many candidates had lied about their age on the registration forms and had given false age proofs,” said JAC chairman Shaligram Yadav.

“We also found out a number of cases in which a particular student was appearing for the intermediate examination from more than one college,” he added.

The inspection that was carried out via computer also pointed to the presence of dummy candidates. Yadav explained that there were many students whose names did not figure in the register, but they were appearing for the examination in others’ names.

Yadav said the overall results of the exams were getting affected because of such fraudulent practice.

“It has been noticed that schools, which are not registered with the council, tend to get maximum number of external candidates for matriculation examination,” said Yadav.

The chairman added that from this year, they have put in place a strict code in keeping with the Jharkhand Examination Conduct Act-2001.

The act states that if any candidate is caught indulging in unfair means, the matter will be reported to the magistrate. Punishment includes a fine of up to Rs 2,000 or a six- month imprisonment.

“Imprisonment is rare as it spoils the career of a child. But the accused can be barred for one exam. Besides, he has to pay the fine,” Yadav said.