The National Human Rights Commission on Monday asked the Centre for details on steps it had taken to counsel “aggrieved students” after question papers of two examinations conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education were leaked last week. The panel gave the Union Human Resource Development Ministry four weeks to file a report on the matter.
The human rights body also sent notices to the CBSE and the Delhi police commissioner. The Delhi Police are investigating the leak.
The NHRC said the authorities had “failed to keep the faith of the students intact” and this “humiliation” amounted to violation of the students’ right to dignity and education. Such “demoralising and unexpected” incidents shatter the students’ enthusiasm, the panel said.
“The students have been undergoing trauma engulfed with helplessness, heartbreak and mental agony during examinations days,” the NHRC said in a release. The panel asked the HRD Ministry to describe steps it would take to avoid such incidents in the future.
On March 28, the Central Board of Secondary Education said the Class 12 economics and Class 10 maths exam papers had been leaked. Both exams had taken place by then, and the announcement sparked massive outrage among students and parents. The board will conduct a fresh exam for the Class 12 economics paper on April 25, and will decide within two weeks on whether a re-test is required for the Class 10 paper.
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