PUC re-examination: Will leave no stone unturned in finding culprits, says Karnataka Minister

In the backdrop of an uproar created by riled-up students over a repeat incident of a 12th standard question paper leak, Karnataka's Minister for Higher Education R.V. Deshpande on Thursday said that the state dispensation will leave no stone unturned in nailing the culprits and will deliver justice to the students.

Deshpande told ANI that it is not healthy that such incidents are taking place repeatedly and added that the state education department will interrogate the matter with full transparency.

"This is not for the first time that this is happening, so many times it has happened it is not good, it is not healthy. Those who are responsible actions should be taken, the government will take actions but you can't call it a government failure. If this has happened due to negligence then action will be taken against that person," he said.

"The education department will act in transparent manner and will take desired actions keeping the interest of the student intact. The CID is investigating the earlier matter and now it has happened again, the government will leave no stone unturned to do justice," he added.

The second Pre-University Chemistry (PUC) re-examination that was scheduled for today, following a question paper leak has been postponed.

After the paper leak confirmation, the exam was postponed for March 31.

The re-examination, initially scheduled for March 29, was postponed following protests demanding the withdrawal of the re-examination.

Earlier in the day, the students and their parents staged a protest outside the Department of Pre-University Education (DPUE) and pelted stones at the PUC building.

The PUC examination took place on March 21 which was later postponed and rescheduled for today due to the question paper leak.

Preliminary inquiry revealed that the chemistry paper was leaked near an exam centre in a women's college at Ballari, about 330km from Bengaluru, and at a state-run college at Malur in Kolar district in Karnataka.

The PUC exams in the state, equivalent to second year intermediate course or Class 12 in central schools, began on March 11 across the state.

As many as 6.5 lakh students will be appearing for this exams in the coming academic year.