Mumbai: The recent leak on social media of SSC Board Exam question papers in five subjects could have been avoided. This is because the state board had information about these leaks on March 11 itself, according to sources from within the board.
Samvad Foundation, a Bhiwandi-based non-governmental organisation, had informed the board about these leaks and even handed over the evidence, but the state board failed to take preventive action. Sources from the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Education (MSBSHE), Mumbai division, have revealed the board officials were repeatedly informed about these leaks, well in advance.
A senior board official said, “Question papers were being circulated on WhatsApp between 10.05 am and 10.15 am, an hour before the exam was scheduled. These papers were submitted as proof to higher officials of the state board on March 11 itself. But neither did officials inform police, nor did they take any action, claiming the scale of the leak was small and the evidence could be fake.”
According to members of the NGO, papers of Algebra, Geometry, Science 1, Science 2 and Social Sciences were circulated on WhatsApp prior to the exams. Govind Sharma, founder of the NGO, said, “Our activists received images of the question papers on WhatsApp from our whistle-blower.
Once we cross-checked the information and it was confirmed, we immediately informed the board, the police and tweeted the same to education minister Vinod Tawde and the CMO. But the board officials did not pay heed to our complaints, despite being provided with evidence.” Sources revealed that the paper leak is a racket, which is an insider job. So far, five papers have been leaked. The officer said.