Students outside the Sikkim secretariat on Tuesday to enquire about the question paper leak. Picture by Prabin Khaling

Gangtok, Nov. 23: The Sikkim human resource development department has deferred the annual CBSE exams for two subjects in Class IX in the state following leak of question papers.

The exams for social studies and English were scheduled to be held today and tomorrow. After the leak, the department has deferred the exams to November 29 and 30 .

“We have postponed the Class IX CBSE exams for social studies and English as it was brought to our attention that question papers for the two subjects had been leaked. All 151 secondary schools in the state were informed yesterday that the two exams had been put off,” said state human resource development secretary R. Telang.

The secretary said the social studies exam would now be held on November 29 and English the next day with new set of question papers. Around 7,500 students appear for Class IX CBSE exams across the state.

Sikkim does not have its own education board and most of the schools are under the CBSE. Except for social studies and English, exams for all other subjects in Class IX were over.

“We had received complaints from various people, including journalists, that the question papers for social studies and English exams had been leaked. We cross-checked and confirmed that the papers had indeed been leaked,” said Telang.

However, exams for science, mathematics and language subjects, which had been held already, would be valid. “We have not received any complaints that question papers for these subjects were leaked and hence, these exams stand valid,” said Telang.

Telang said CBSE question papers for Class IX annual exams were printed in the government press in Gangtok and they were dispatched to all the schools in sealed covers. He added that an FIR had been lodged by the department with the Gangtok Sadar police.

“Despite this, there has been a leak and it is a serious matter. We have asked police to conduct a thorough investigation as it relates to the security of the government press. I will also meet the state home secretary on this issue,” said Telang.

He, however, refrained from pointing finger at anyone for the leak. “The police will investigate the case and find out how the leak happened. They will file criminal cases against those responsible for the leak. We will also overhaul the system to prevent such incidents in future.”

Attempts to contact, A.K. Chowdhury, the CBSE regional officer for the Northeast, at his Guwahati office proved to be futile.