Once again II PU Chemistry re-exam postponed; angry students stage protest

Bengaluru, Mar 31: Thousands of students and their parents have launched protests across Karnataka after II PU Chemistry papers were leaked once again. The move forced the board to postpone the pre-university course examination for the third time in last 10 days.

Last week, the Chemistry exam was postponed as the papers were leaked and the Board found out about it only after the exams were conducted on March 21. Later the re-examination was scheduled for March 29. Then again it was postponed to March 31. Today the examination was postponed again.

Over 1.4 lakh students have been affected with the development. The students appearing for the common entrance test have been especially affected as their regular examinations are still incomplete.

Angry students and parents are protesting against the board and demanding dismissal of Education Minister K Ratnakar. Some MLAs from the ruling Congress party have also joined the protests.

The protesting students have said that they will not appear for a re-examination.

Hitting out at the government for its failure to conduct a foolproof examination, Karnataka BJP leader and Union Minister Ananthkumar said that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah must take the blame and take the strictest action against the culprits.

State BJP president and MP Prahlad Joshi demanded the dismissal of Primary and Secondary education minister Kimmane Ratnakar immediately. He said that Siddaramaiah must make a statement.

Reacting to the comments Siddaramaiah said, "I came to know that the Chemistry question paper has been leaked. It has happened for the second time. We will take necessary action. The BJP is politicising it."

The last day of the Budget session of the state Assembly was disrupted by the angry MLAs of the opposition who demanded the strictest possible action against those responsible for the paper leak.

The preliminary inquiry into the first case of paper leak had revealed that it was leaked near an examination centre in a women's college at Ballari, about 330 km from Bengaluru, and at a state-run college at Malur in Kolar district, 50 km.

The PUC exams in the state, equivalent to second year intermediate course or 12th class in central schools began on March 11 across the state, with 6.5 lakh students appearing in this academic year.