No cameras for exams please, we146;re cheating

With a view to check the use of unfair means in examinations, the Nitish Kumar government has introduced video cameras to record exam hall proceedings during this year8217;s Class XII finals. But, though Bihar welcomed the use of video cameras at polling booths during the last Assembly elections, the hightech exam hall experiment has run into a furious opposition from both students and parents.

At an examination centre in Munger last Thursday, students and parents, outraged at being denied the freedom to cheat, first bashed up the government-appointed videographer and broke his camera. They then went on to throw stones, damage college property and assault teachers and officials deputed at the centre. The protest turned so violent that the officials on duty had to lock themselves into a room for protection and later, when the police arrived, they refused to return to work.

Similar protests were witnessed at three other Munger centres. Prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC had to be imposed at some places so that the exams could be held. Protests were reported a day later from half-a-dozen other districts.

At one centre in Munger town, the exams could be held only under heavy police deployment 8212; the SP, the SDO and the DSP had to call in extra force to restore peace.

Such antagonism to government measures to curb cheating is not new to Bihar. This time, however, the use of video cameras has not only made cheating more difficult, but strict action has been taken against those caught doing so; most of them have been expelled. This only stoked the protesters8217; rage.

Despite the widespread opposition, examination board officials have ruled out the possibility of any relaxation in the anti-cheating drive.