New Delhi: Lakhs of students who appeared for CBSE class X Maths and Class Xll Economics exams will be forced to sit again as reports of paper leaks prompted the CBSE to announce that it would be re-conducting its class X Maths and Class Xll Economics papers after the question papers allegedly were found doing rounds hours before the exam on WhatsApp. In its statement, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) said that the decision has been taken to "uphold the sanctity of board exams and in the interest of fairness to the students". Meanwhile, after the PMO intervened and PM spoke to HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar, two separate cases were filed with the Delhi Police Crime branch to investigate the leak.
The new dates for the examinations and other details will be hosted on the CBSE website within a week. The Board's move comes after a hand written note with exactly the same questions as the CBSE question papers was found circulating on social media message application days before the exams in these papers were conducted.
"The CBSE will issue the new dates for the re-examination very soon. We are devising a new system from Monday which will be leak-proof," Javadekar told reporters at a Press conference. "I have full confidence that police will apprehend the criminals. We will not let injustice happen to anyone... we are saddened by whatever has happened," he said, adding that an internal investigation is also underway to trace the source of the leak.
Delhi Police was quick to register two separate FIRs in the case and start the probe. "We have registered two separate FIRs under Section 406/ 420 and 120 B of the IPC. The Crime branch of Delhi Police will investigate the case. Sensing the gravity of the matter, a Special Investigating Team (SIT) has been formed comprising two deputy commissioners of police, four ACPs and five inspectors," informed Delhi Police Spokesperson Deepender Pathak.
This leak and re-exam will affect lakhs of students who appeared for the exams. Congress Delhi unit president Ajay Maken, too, was disappointed with the leak. "My son Aujaswi studied hard for the CBSE class X board Maths exam held on Wednesday. His joy of finishing the board exams was short lived. He is extremely dejected as the Maths paper got leaked and this leaking government would hold the exam again. I feel sorry for him as lakhs of other students." Maken tweeted.
CBSE had to face the wrath on the Net too, as students, teachers and parents took to social media to vent their anguish against the paper leak. "Why do we have to suffer for CBSE's carelessness? It's the Board's responsibility to keep the question papers secure and as a class Xll student, I am really disappointed with the leaking news." Commented a student.