Pre-University Chemistry re-exam held in Karnataka

Bengaluru, April 12: The second year pre-university course re-exam in chemistry was held across Karnataka on Tuesday as rescheduled after its question paper leaked twice leading to cancellations on March 21 and March 31.

"The re-examination of the chemistry paper was held across the state under strict supervision of our officials amid tight security," Pre-University board director Rame Gowda told reporters here later.

Around 1.74 lakh students appeared for the three-hour re-exam from 9 a.m. till noon in 968 centres across 30 districts.

Thousands of students came out of the centres beaming, as the question paper was "easier", and expressed relief that the ordeal was finally over.

Some of the students found the question paper better than the one they wrote on March 21, which was cancelled hours after it was held when the board learnt it was leaked in some centres in Ballari and Kolar districts.

Ballari is about 330 km from Bengaluru and Kolar about 100 km away.

The March 31 re-exam was cancelled before it could be held after sleuths of the state crime investigation department (CID) alerted the board that the paper in the same subject got leaked in Bengaluru and Tumakuru, about 70 km from here.

Five people, including personal assistant Oblaraju to state medical education minister Sharan Prakash Patil, one education department official and two teachers were arrested on April 4-5 for their alleged involvement in the leak of the question paper on both occasions.

About 40 officials of the board from joint director to peon were also suspended on March 31 and the CID is investigating the case.

IANS