SC to Centre: Install phone jammers at examination centres
The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Centre to install phone jammers at exam centres to prevent paper leaks and other malpractices.
Perturbed over rampant irregularities in the recently concluded All India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT), the Supreme Court Thursday directed the Centre to install phone jammers at exam centres to prevent paper leaks and other malpractices.
“You must put phone jammers in and around the examination centres. Union (of India) must make exams foolproof. People are wearing jackets etc and they are able to use phones inside the centres. If you don’t take such measures, the level of frustration of genuine candidates will only go up,” said a bench of Justices A K Sikri and Uday U Lalit.
Additional Solicitor General Maninder Singh lamented that law-breakers are usually ahead of law-makers.
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The bench, however, told Singh that it was the duty of the Union government to make sure that such all-India examinations have due sanctity.
The court was hearing petitions demanding cancellation of the AIPMT, conducted on May 3, owing to irregularities in Haryana from where several mobile phones and jackets with pockets to hide sim cards and bluetooth devices were recovered.
It directed Haryana police to speed up its probe and adduce a fresh progress report Tuesday.
“Cancellation of exam and holding it afresh is the last resort. If we are able to pick on those who cheated in the exam, then we may not have to disturb the schedule. The test will be if we can separate the chaff from the grain,” said the bench.
It noted that nearly 6 lakh students had appeared for the AIPMT and it would be more feasible if the police could nab those who used illicit means so that other candidates could carry on with counselling and admission.
The bench also directed police of Bihar, Gujarat and Delhi to co-operate with Haryana police in nabbing the culprits.
The telecom service providers have also been ordered to render all necessary assistance to the police.
Meanwhile, Haryana police told the court that six accused had been arrested so far but the kingpin, Roop Singh Dangi, was still at large.
The bench told the police that if technology had helped this illegality take place, they should also make use of the same technology to bring all guilty to book.
Source:: Indian Express
