M A I N   N E W S

A Tribune Investigation
J&K Class XII papers leaked via SMS
Ashutosh Sharma
Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 21
In an incident that raises a question mark over the functioning of officials of the Jammu and Kashmir Board of Secondary Education, at least three Class XII papers were leaked about 10 to 12 hours before the commencing of the respective exams.

But the modus operandi chosen by paper leakers was a bit different: they used cellphone SMS instead of photostat copies to circulate questions. An investigation by The Tribune has revealed that the questions of English-B (held on March 19), Physics-A (March 3) and Chemistry (March 6) papers had allegedly been received via SMS by students by “paying Rs 5,000”. Identity of those who leaked the exam is yet to be known. The Tribune has with it record of the SMSes sent.

Surprisingly, the Board of Secondary Education (BOSE), too, had information about the paper leak as an investigation had been ordered. About 43,000 students across 441 centres under Jammu division appeared in the Class XII examination.

The unfair mode came to fore after a SMS was by mistake delivered to a student of another class. Ever since, The Tribune had been, with the help of a few students, keeping a tab on the examination process.

While the leaked questions matched 100 per cent the actual paper of English-B and Physics-A, the SMS of Chemistry exam had similarity of only three-four questions. BOSE secretary Dr Sheikh Bashir, who is heading the inquiry panel, said: “Stringent action will be initiated in case any Board employee is found involved in the paper-leak episode.”