L-G CANCELS DSSSB PRT EXAM

Lieutenant Governor (LG) Anil Baijal on Tuesday cancelled the Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board (DSSSB) examination for the post of primary teachers for MCD schools -2017 held on October 29. Sources said this move followed a report by Delhi police on the issue of alleged cheating in the aforesaid examination.

It may be mentioned that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had, on December 3, written to L-G, asking him to clear the file for cancellation of the DSSSB examination. “Papers leaked in a DSSSB exam last month. Myself n DCM ordered cancellation of exam. File sent to L-G. I had urged L-G to approve our decision (sic),” Kejriwal had tweeted.

Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta, too, had said: “DSSSB has repeatedly failed to fulfill its responsibilities during last three years and such incidents raised questions about the functioning of the institution. The Delhi government was only running away from its responsibility by hiding such incidents.”

The examination was held on October 29 and on allegations of cheating an FIR was registered by the Delhi Police. The matter was later handed over to the crime branch for a swift investigation. Following the development, the L-G had directed the Commissioner of Delhi Police to investigate the matter from all angles in a time bound manner.

In the latest report now submitted by Delhi Police, it has been apprised that a number of suspects are possibly involved in alleged cheating in the aforesaid examination. About 20 suspects have already been arrested in this regard. The Delhi Police has also submitted that the use of social media and technology has come to light and prima facie, the number of alleged beneficiaries could also be large. As such, the possibility of the sanctity of the examination being violated cannot be ruled out. Acting on the report, the Lt. Governor has cancelled the said examination. Further, the L-G has issued directions that chairperson, DSSSB, should conduct the examination again expeditiously so that the vacancies of teachers are filled as soon as possible. Baijal also directed that while doing so, the DSSSB may review their systems and methods of conducting the examination thoroughly and also look into the modus operandi employed by the suspects so that in future all such loopholes can be plugged.

Finally, as per the investigation conducted by the Delhi police so far, a number of staff of the Education Department appeared to have been involved in an organised man- ner in cheating/ copying. At least one of them has reportedly been involved in a similar case earlier also.

The L-G has also directed that Secretary (education) must take strict disciplinary action against all such staff which have so far been found indulged in cheating activities in the aforesaid examination and submit an action taken report within ten days.