Mumbai: The Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations, conducted by the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) from 11 February, have reported their first case of malpractice in the Mumbai division. On Monday, a dummy candidate was caught attempting the Physics examination at Om Sai Junior College in Vasai.
Rajendra Ahire, Chairman of the Mumbai division of MSBSHSE, confirmed that an FIR has been registered at Pelhar police station regarding the incident.
“During Monday’s Physics exam, the board-appointed flying squad conducted a surprise inspection at the examination centre. Upon verification, it was found that the details on a candidate’s hall ticket did not match the board’s records. After further questioning, the individual was confirmed to be a dummy candidate, and an FIR was subsequently lodged with the police,” Ahire stated.
He further emphasised that examination centres are bound by strict regulations to prevent and address malpractice. “Once the investigation is complete, any negligence on the part of the examination centre will be dealt with appropriately,” he added. As per board regulations, centres found guilty of failing to uphold security measures may face debarment for a minimum of three years.
To ensure a fair examination process, the Maharashtra government has implemented the ‘copy-free exam’ initiative, identifying 15 high-risk examination centres in the Mumbai division for enhanced anti-cheating measures. However, the Vasai centre where the malpractice occurred had not been classified as a high-risk centre under this initiative.
Authorities continue to reinforce vigilance and preventive measures to maintain the integrity of the ongoing HSC examinations across the state.
