Not keen on re-exam, say officials

A re-exam will be unlikely in this case, unless it is proved that a huge number of students accessed the paper. We will consult with the education minister before taking the call GANGADHAR MHAMANE, chairperson of the board

MUMBAI: Education officials said they were not keen on making students reappear for bookkeeping and accountancy examination.

The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE), however, will take a decision on the re-exam only after police complete their investigation.

It is estimated that a re-exam for the subject could cost close to Rs2 crore, besides manpower and time.

“A re-exam will be unlikely in this case, unless it is proved that a huge number of students accessed the paper. We will consult with the education minister before taking the call,” said Gangadhar Mhamane, the chairperson of the board.

“According to our sources, by the time the paper leaked on Whatsapp, students were already seated in the exam halls and did not have access to their phones,” he added.

In recent past, the board had not made students reappear for a subject even when some students accessed the paper before it was handed out to the examinees.

For instance, after the SSC algebra paper leak on March 15, 2013, the board did not conduct a re-exam even after a teacher was arrested for passing on a copy of the paper to a coaching class owner, who sold the papers to the students just 20 minutes before the exam.

Last year, a re-exam for the Hsctextiles paper was conducted but only because several students had missed the paper because of an alleged mistake in the board timetable.

“If the board decides to conduct a re-exam, they have to start from scratch,” said Duttatray Jagtap, the chairperson of the Mumbai division. “First new question papers will have to be set, then printed and exam centres will have to be assigned along with staff and examiners to check them,” he added.