Already under fire over its handling of the Class 12 examination after the Chemistry question paper leaked twice within 10 days, the Karnataka government is now struggling to convince the lecturers who haveboycotted the evaluation over pay anomaly issue.
The lecturers are demanding implementation of the G KumarNaik report that recommends better pay scales for them.
Even as the government, in a attempt to pacify the lecturers, today announced 30 per cent hike in the remuneration and daily allowance to evaluators, Karnataka State PU College Lecturers and Principals' Association have decided to continue the boycott.
They have accused the government of trying to "mislead" students, parents and public in general. "This remuneration they are announcing now when we are demanding on salary issue is to mislead the people. We stand firm, government has to take decision fast,"Lecturers' Union President Timmaiah Purle said.
Srikanthegowda of the Principals' association said "remuneration increase is a routine process and is not a remedy for the pay anomaly, it is an insult to us."
Primary and Secondary Education Minister KimmaneRathnakar has expressed confidence that the lecturers willend their protest and appear for evaluation keepingthe students' interest in mind.
He said if they don't appear for evaluation, alternative arrangements will be made and results announced as per schedule.
Meanwhile, Minister Sharanprakash Patil's Officer onSpecial Duty and two others, who were arrested yesterday by CID in connection with the question paper leak case have beenremanded to nine-day police custody from today by a court here.
The examination that first took place on March 21 was cancelled after the question paper was leaked.
Hours before the rescheduled Chemistry exam was tobegin on March 31, Department of Pre-University Education(DPUE) was alerted about the question paper leak at twolocations in the state.
The state government has handed over the probe into the matter to CID.
