‘Could Not Sleep, I’m a Parent Too’: Javadekar on CBSE Paper Leak

An FIR has been filed, naming a tutor and two schools as parties involved in the leak.

Union Minister Human Resources Development Prakash Javadekar.

(Photo: IANS)

Union Minister for Human Resources Development Prakash Javadekar on Thursday, 29 March said that those involved with the paper leak will not be “spared”, promising that the police will arrest the culprits soon.

In a press conference, a day after CBSE announced that students of Class 10 and Class 12 will have to take a re-examination of their Mathematics and Economics paper, Javadekar said that he is a parent as well and that he lost sleep in light of the paper leak.

“This is a very unfortunate development, I understand the pain the parents and students have to go through. Whoever is involved in the paper leak will not be spared, police will soon arrest the culprits. I also could not sleep, I am also a parent,” said Javadekar.

‘Remove Javadekar As HRD Minister’: Surjewala

Congress Spokesperson Randeep Surjewala, addressing a press conference on Thursday, 29 March, demanded that Javadekar and CBSE Chairperson Anita Karwal be removed from their current positions.

Without removing Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar and CBSE Chairperson Anita Karwal from their current positions, a fair and impartial investigation into this paper leak issue is impossible

Randeep Surjewala, Spokesperson, Conress

He also questioned why the post of CBSE chairman has been left vacant for two years.

Post Vyapam & SSC now 3 papers of CBSE have also been leaked & as per students, some more papers have also been leaked. There was an error in evaluation of Class 12 exams in 2017. Why was the post of CBSE chairman left vacant for 2 years?

Randeep Surjewala, Spokesperson, Congress

FIR Filed Against Tutor, Two Schools

While the dates for re-examination will be announced in a week’s time, the students’ fate hangs in balance as CBSE officials reportedly are on a four-day extended leave on account of the gazetted holidays.

As students took the CBSE Economics exam on 26 March, the CBSE Academic Unit at Rouse Avenue received an “unaddressed envelope” containing four sheets of handwritten answers of the economics paper, indicating that the question paper had been leaked and circulated on WhatsApp groups, Indian Express reported, quoting an FIR on 29 March.

Two cases were registered with the Crime Branch after CBSE’s complaints, the report said. The FIR names a tutor and two schools as parties involved in the racket.

Internal Probe Initiated: Javadekar

Addressing a press conference earlier on 28 March, Javadekar on 28 March said a new “foolproof” system would be in place for CBSE board exams following reports of the exam papers leak, PTI reported.

Javadekar said an internal probe was initiated into reports claiming that the papers were leaked. Refuting charges against the CBSE, he said it has a solid system in place and conducts 24 exams annually for 1.2 crore students.

It seems some kind of gang is behind this and is doing it deliberately. A special team is already probing the matter and the guilty will not spared.

Prakash Javadekar, HRD Minister