Thaindian News

Kolkata, July 29 (IANS) Many would-be teachers could not appear for a recruitment examination conducted by the West Bengal School Service Commission due to organisational mismanagement and technical glitches Sunday. The commission chairman smelled “conspiracy” behind the anomalies.

The question papers allegedly either reached well beyond the stipulated time or were short of the required numbers at many of the centres. There were also complaints that there was lack of Optical Mark Recognition sheets (answer scripts) triggering widespread chaos and agitations by examinees.

In South 24 Parganas district’s Diamond Harbour, much to the dismay of 300 examinees, the centre that was allotted on their admit cards was not aware about the event and the exam was conducted only after the examinees gheraoed the sub-divisional officer.

Such glitches were reported from several examination centres spread across the districts of Howrah, Hooghly, South 24 Parganas and Malda.

“We have received reports of technical glitches and examinees refusing to appear for the examinations. Only at few centres the question paper did not reach on time. There has been a concerted effort to create a ruckus and deny employment to 55,000 people,” Commission chairman Chittaranjan Mandal told media persons.

Meanwhile, state Higher Education Minister Bratya Basu has ordered a probe into the matter and said re-examination will be conducted in some centres.

“I have talked to the chief minister (Mamata Banerjee) and as per her order, we will conduct an inquiry into the alleged glitches. At centres where the examinees could not appear due to valid reasons, we will conduct re-examinations, the date of which will be announced later,” said Basu.

The opposition Left Front did not let go the opportunity to criticise the government for slack conduct of the examination.

“Unlike examinations during our regime, this time it was conducted flouting rules and regulations which have not happened earlier. This is highly deplorable and we condemn it,” Front chairman Biman Bose said.