As part of the investigation into the Kerala Public Service Commission examination fraud, the Crime Branch has given an eight-point recommendation to the state government to put a curb on the malpractices. From conducting the exams online to giving special training for invigilators of the examination, the suggestions were handed over to the government by Crime Branch ADGP Tomin J Thachankary.
Sivaranjith and AN Naseem, two students of University College in Thiruvananthapuram, were booked by the Crime Branch for PSC exam fraud case. Though they were initially arrested as accused of stabbing an undergraduate student of the university, on searches as part of the probe the Crime Branch retrieved answer papers of PSC exams from them which lead to the PSC exam fraud case. The Crime Branch has given recommendations to the government is following this probe.
The first among the eight point recommendation is to change the existing sitting pattern of the students during the examination. At present, the seating arrangement of the students can be known at least one month prior to the exam. Crime Branch suggests that this will pave the way to plan out malpractices and hence this method of giving seating arrangement details beforehand should be changed, reports Malayala Manorama.
In case of examinations to higher posts, Crime Branch has recommended government to fix WiFi and mobile jammer at the exam centres.
In order to prevent the question papers from leaking out, Crime Branch has suggested that the number of unused question papers after each examination should be quantified while returning answer papers and other materials to PSC. This can prevent candidates from throwing question papers outside the exam hall to leak the questions during the examination, the report suggested.
Crime Branch has stressed that CCTV cameras should be made compulsory in exam halls to prevent fraudulent behaviour of candidates. It has also been recommended that there should be a strict body check before candidates are made to enter the exam hall. This is to make sure candidates do not bring in electronic equipment like mobile phones, smartwatches and bluetooth ear pieces. Shoe, belt and even buttons on candidate’s dresses will be checked. All kinds of watches will be prohibited and there will be common clocks in the exam halls, as per the recommendation.
It has also been recommended that only those with proper training and qualification should be made invigilators in exams. Besides, each exam centre should have at least one official from the Kerala Public Service Commission to monitor the exam centre.
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