Post paper leak controversy, Delhi Police has a new security plan for entrance exam centres

Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla held a meeting earlier this month with all state Chief Secretaries and DGPs where he is learnt to have asked them to issue standard operating procedures (SOPs) for proper and safe conduct of national-level examinations.

While issuing SOP on July 12, Arora said that the DCP (headquarters-II) should circulate the schedule of an upcoming examination to be conducted by NTA, NBE and CTAs among the districts concerned in order to work out necessary arrangements.

Officers should be categorically deployed to visit the centre on the previous day and ensure that it is sanitised and sealed properly in the presence of the officials of the testing body concerned, he added.

Currently, only one beat constable along with another police official visits the exam centre and takes action in case of a call related to impersonation. However, recent controversies over several centrally conducted entrance tests, including the NEET-UG paper, have necessitated a review of systems around all such entrance tests.

“The DCP (headquarters-II) should also share the schedule with DCP (PCR), who will, upon receipt of the same, brief and alert the PCR vans located near the examination centres to enhance patrolling and to respond to any call that may concern the conduct of the examination in a professional manner. The DCP (PCR) should also depute an officer in PCR to monitor the conduct of examinations from the perspective of law and order situation,” Arora said.

Arora further said that an advanced and adequate police force will be deployed at the centres commensurate to the strength of candidates appearing for the examination to maintain peace and public tranquility in and around the premises. “Detailed staff will remain present at the centres till the examination teams depart from there after conclusion of the examination,” he said.

“…There should be a standing committee at the headquarter level, chaired by Joint/Additional CP (headquarter), having DCP (headquarters-II) and ACP/Coordination-I as its members,” he stated. “On behalf of Delhi Police, DCP (headquarters-II) should be the nodal officer for all communications between Delhi Police, the NTA, NBE and CTAs. Headquarter-level committee should have all district Additional DCP-1 as co-opted members. There should also be a standing committee in each district, chaired by district DCP and comprising Additional DCP-1 and ACP (headquarter),” he further added.

According to the SOP, the DCP (headquarters-II), being the nodal officer for Delhi Police, should share the official mobile/landline numbers of Additional DCPs-1 of all districts with the NTA, NBE and CTAs for information and localised coordination. “In case of restriction on movement in certain areas, admit cards issued to the candidates by the NTA, NBE and CTAs should be treated as a ‘Movement Pass’,” Arora said.