UP government to make serious effort to ensure Intermediate exams were held in free and fair manner

Updated on: Thursday, February 14, 2013

The Allahabad High Court directed Uttar Pradesh government to make serious effort to ensure that the upcoming High School and Intermediate exams were held in free and fair manner and that institutions previously found to be involved in malpractices are not made examination centres again.

The order was passed by Justice Arun Tandon on a number of writ petitions filed by educational institutions which had alleged that "institutions which were blacklisted in respect of Board Examinations in the previous years are still being made examination centres" while many of those which had "successfully conducted the Board Examinations of 2012" were being overlooked.

The court said since the allegations were "against the highest officers of the Board, namely the Director, Secondary Education and the Secretary of the Board", "finalisation of the examination centres must be settled by the Secretary, Secondary Education department himself and it may not be left in the hands of the aforesaid two officers or any subordinate officer so far as the debarred institutions are concerned".

Noting that "in certain writ petitions there are allegations of political interference", the court ordered Secretary of Department of Secondary Education that "the Secretary of the Board shall forward district-wise list", to the state government by February 17, of institutions which have been recommended for being made examination centres despite being blacklisted.

Fixing February 27 as the next date of hearing in the matter, the court also directed the department's Secretary to submit a list of "blacklisted institutions which have been made examination centres, disclosing the reasons for the same".

Earlier, the Chief Standing Counsel for the state had assured the court that "no institutions, blacklisted for whatever reason it may be", would be made examination centres this year "except where necessary as per Government Order dated December 07, 2012".

According to the aforesaid GO, institutions which have been blacklisted "on charge submission of excess forms and unauthorised forms of students in the previous year, could be considered for being made examination centres only for self-centre for girl students, and that too under unavoidable circumstances".

The petitioners had also alleged that the provisions of the Government Order were "being misuitilised".

Examinations for both High School and Intermediate are scheduled to commence from March 12.

While High School exams will end on April 03, Intermediate examinations will conclude on April 13.

UP government to make serious effort to ensure Intermediate exams were held in free and fair manner

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