JAMMU: In a shocking incident reported on Tuesday from Government Higher Secondary School Jakh, minor girl students of Class 12 were allegedly slapped and faced inappropriate physical harassment by a male external examiner deputed by Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) to conduct the practical examination.
According to reports, several girl students who appeared in the Chemistry practical raised serious allegations of ‘misconduct’ against the examiner, who had been deputed from the Vijaypur division of JKBOSE. The students claimed that the situation escalated during the examination when the examiner allegedly resorted to slapping and inappropriate physical harassment.
The issue took a serious turn when the aggrieved students informed their parents and the institution concerned about matter. The development sparked outrage among families and locals, who termed the incident unacceptable and demanded accountability.
Later, the matter was reported to the Vijaypur Police Station through a written complaint by the parents and the institution concerned.
Meanwhile, The Earth News tried to contact Chairman JKBOSE who asked to talk to Joint Secretary JKBOSE but no action was taken till the filing of this story.
Additionally, the matter was also reported to Deputy Commission Ayushi Sudan who directed the Chief Education Officer, Samba to enquire the matter and take the appropriate action.
Sources said that the matter of the concern is that the practical examination was conducted by the examiner in absence of an assistant. Interestingly, the Principal of the school was also not present in the school during the examinations.
Moreover, it is also a matter of enquiry whether the set guidelines of Supreme Court of India and Central Government were violated by examiner who was conducting the exam.
It is also an eye-opener for the education authorities in J&K to examine the trauma being faced by the girl students who still have to face the other examinations in coming days.
Parents appealed to Secretary School Education Department and Chairman JKBOSE to ensure that the girl students should not further faced trauma or exploitation as the practical examinations have no ‘revaluation or rechecking’ process.
They also asked authorities to initiate a thorough inquiry, fix responsibility, take action as per law and also amend the procedures that allow scope of exploitation of students specially in practical exams.
