Prohibitory orders outside exam centres

Chandigarh, Mar 1: In a bid to check copying in the annual school examinations commencing tomorrow (Mar 2, 2006) the Punjab Government has imposed prohibitory orders under section 144 of CRPC in a 100 metre radius around examination centers.

The order will be strictly enforced and effectively implemented to keep the outsiders away from the exam centers, School Education Minister Harnam Dass Johar today said after reviewing the arrangements for the exams.

The Government has directed all the education officers to strictly curb the menace of copying in the school examinations in the state and warned the supervisory staff as well as students not to indulge in unfair means.

Mr Johar said that no police personnel or any other person would be allowed to enter the examination hall during the examinations.

Supervisory staff and students would not be allowed to use mobile phones or any other means of communication.

He also directed the Education Department and Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) officers to deploy flying squad personnel from other departments for checking exam centers.

The Minister also said that he himself along with senior officers would make surprise visits to the examination centers.

He warned that if any complaint of mass copying was found, that examination center would immediately be cancelled for the next examination. Besides, disciplinary action would be immediately initiated against the erring invigilators and other supervisory staff.

If any candidate was found indulging in impersonation, a police case could be registered against both the persons, he added.

The Minister further added that all the Deputy Commissioners and District Police Chiefs had been requested to help the examination controllers in this regard and deploy at least two constables at each center.

Mr Johar also said that storage and handling of question papers or solved papers would be streamlined in order to check pilferage.

He directed the senior Education Department officers and PSEB officers to keep a vigilant eye on day-to-day basis and check the examination centers daily during the examination days.

UNI