Ensuring cheating-free exams is easier than done

Intermediate examination centres of the city await the implementation of Section 144 (6) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), according to which no one other than the candidate possessing a roll number slip or a member of the supervisory staff is to be found within 100 yards of the examination centre, Pakistan Today has learnt.
DEPLOYMENT DECIDED: In a meeting headed by the Punjab home secretary and attended by the Punjab home secretary, the chairmen of the Lahore and Faisalabad boards, the AIG and others, it was decided that police would be deployed outside each examination centre, while special police squads would also be constituted to thwart cheating. The meeting also decided that the boards’ chairmen would be given magisterial powers to punish cheaters.
NOT ENOUGH: BISE Lahore argues that the Punjab Police have failed to deploy enough police force at the examination centres to ensure the implementation of the order. As many as 14 unfair means cases (UMC) have been registered in the city over the last 12 days. Section 144 (6) also bars any person from carrying a guidebook or solved paper within 100 yards of the examination centres before or during the examination hours.
Students said that some ‘influential men’ dodged exam supervisors and cheating in exams was still being done. They claimed that the entry of irrelevant people was common in examination centres and the board officials were helpless in this regard. They also claimed that increasing number of UMCs could be stopped if the order was implemented in letter and spirit.
CHAIRMEN’S POWERS USELESS: Demanding stern action against the intruders, supervisory staff said the police should enforce section 144 (6) to provide security to them and the students. It also said that the police’s absence prevented the boards’ chairmen from using their powers.
VIOLATORS AT MAO COLLEGE: Board officials claimed that BISE was finding it difficult to deal with the use of unfair means at the examination centres. They said that some goons from outside misbehaved with the superintendent of the centre 287 (A) in MAO College on Thursday.
They claimed that owing to the police’s absence the crooks managed to escape, though an FIR has been registered against them. On the other hand, the Islampura Police Station officials claimed that they received a complaint but an FIR has not been registered yet. They claimed that the Lahore Board chairman suspended the resident inspector of that centre and appointed an inquiry officer to investigate the matter.
A board official, seeking anonymity, told Pakistan Today that MAO College was among 22 declared ‘hot centres’ and it was unfortunate that there was no police deployment there. He also said that that there used to be only two or three constables at the major cluster centres which could not enforce Section 144 (6).
An MAO College student claimed that he would feel more relieved if security cover was provided to him and the police deployment could play its part in arresting the people who violated laws. He also said that he could merely see any special police squad promised at the meeting called by the Home Department.
SELECTIVE POLICE DEPLOYMENT: The convener of the board exams in Punjab, Chaudhary Muhammad Akram, said that it was not possible to deploy police at each examination centre, though he admitted that the implementation of Section 144 (6) was the police’s responsibility. He said that police deployment was only required in areas where there was a possibility of cheating.
MORE POLICE COULD BE MADE AVAILABLE: IG office Director Public Relations (DPR) Nabeela said that the police have been deployed at the examination centres across Punjab as per the orders of the Home Department. She claimed that more police force would be made available if the Home Department asked.