Bengaluru: The Legislative Council on Friday passed the Karnataka Education (Amendment) Bill, 2017, which proposes stringent punishment for those involved in exam malpractices.
The Bill, framed to make the examination and evaluation process foolproof after II PU question paper leakage last year, had generated a lot of heat in the Council earlier, with MLCs representing Teachers’ constituencies raising objections. It was then referred to the select committee that watered down some penal provisions for evaluators.
Primary and Secondary Education Minister Tanveer Sait explained that the modifications make a distinction between those involved in paper leak and in evaluation-related malpractices, with the quantum of punishment for the latter brought down from a maximum of five years imprisonment and Rs 5 lakh fine to six months and Rs1 lakh. For those involved in paper leak, there is a different quantum of punishment for first-time and repeat offenders, with the maximum jail term of three years and penalty of Rs 5 lakh, and five years and Rs 5 lakh respectively. Punishment for people who instigate those involved in exam or evaluation to refrain from work, proposed earlier, has been omitted.
The minister said the department was thinking of several ways of helping students, including allowing students with attendance shortage, who were unable to take exams, to appear for supplementary exams.
