Private detectives to keep an eye on examination malpractices in Karnataka

For the first time in the history of examination system in Karnataka, the authorities have roped in private detective agencies to keep an eye on malpractices during the second year Pre University examinations commencing across the State on March 29.

“Private detective agents will be on the prowl this year to secretly monitor and record any instance of malpractices during the examinations”, Pre University Education Commissioner S G Hegde told reporters in Bangalore.

The private detective squads will pay surprise visits to the sensitive examination centers located all over the state. The Pre University Education Department’s move to rope in private detectives for the examinations comes in the wake of widespread malpractices reported during the last two years.

The deployment of private detectives is in addition to the flying and sitting vigilance squads, who are routinely posted for duty at the examination centers. The examination centers will also be video-graphed, Hegde said.

A total of 4,94,212 students are appearing for the second year Pre University examinations scheduled to be held from March 29 to April 16 across 707 examination centers in the State. To tackle malpractice during examinations, the Pre University Board has identified 90 sensitive and 70 hypersensitive examination centers in the State.

The authorities have already constituted over 150 mobile squads, besides sitting squads, which constitute more than 3,000 lecturers. The superintendents of the examination centers and the invigilators will be collectively held accountable for examination malpractice, Hegde warned.

A total of 1,083 cases of examination malpractice were reported last year and 1,220 were reported the previous year. “We are taking stringent measures this year to arrest the trend of malpractice and restore the sanctity of the examination system”, Hegde said.