BPSC chairman denies allegations of paper leak following disruptions during CCE 2024 exam in Patna

Parmar Ravi Manubhai, the chairman of the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC), denied allegations of a paper leak at the preliminary Combined Competitive Examination (CCE) 2024, which was conducted in Patna's Bapu Pariksha Bhavan on Dec 13.

Over 4 lakh candidates took the test, which was conducted at 912 locations throughout the state.

While most reports were quiet, Patna reported significant disturbances at one exam center.

Several Bapu Pariksha Bhavan candidates said they did not receive their question papers on time, and others accused the exam of being rigged and unfair.

Amidst the confusion, a video of Dr Chandrashekhar Singh, the District Magistrate (DM) of Patna, smacking a candidate who was protesting outside the center went viral on social media.

On social media, the incident sparked a lot of discussion, with many people arguing the use of force to resolve the conflict.

In response to the candidates' worries, the chairman of the BPSC claimed that no papers had been leaked.

He confirmed that the protest didn't start until the students were seated in the exam room and cut off from the outside world.

"We received information around 12:30 pm about some students creating a disturbance in the exam, but by then, all students had already entered the exam hall and had no access to any external information, Singh said.

According to Manubhai, a few applicants at the Patna center raised issues with modifications to the question format, but these were resolved, and no more grievances were received until after the first hour of the test.

"The examination was monitored using high-tech methods, and there is no truth to the allegations of a paper leak," he said.

Singh clarified that the delay in question paper distribution was the reason for the disturbance at the Bapu Pariksha Bhavan.

Candidates at the Kumhrar-based center received their papers 15 minutes late, but they were not given extra time to make up for the delay.

According to reports, the problem resulted from a management breakdown at the center.

When the protests persisted, police and administrative authorities had to intervene to bring order back, despite efforts to calm the contestants.

"During the Bihar Public Service Commission examination at Bapu Examination Center, Kumhrar, some candidates accused irregularities and boycotted the examination, creating a commotion outside the examination hall,” the Patna DM said.

“Upon receiving the information, the District Magistrate of Patna and the Senior Superintendent of Police of Patna reached the center," DM added.

"Outside the center, some individuals had blocked the road with a trolley, causing significant disruption. In the midst of this chaos, an additional center superintendent, Mr Ram Iqbal Singh, suffered a heart attack,” he said.

“Immediate efforts were made to rush him to the hospital, but unfortunately, he passed away upon arrival. A female candidate also fainted and was sent to the hospital in an ambulance, where her condition later improved," he added.

He continued, "In this tense situation, light force was used to clear the roadblock, remove people from the street, and restore traffic flow. There was no intention to hurt or slap any candidate.”

“The district administration is always committed to ensuring the convenience and welfare of candidates. However, strict action will be taken against those identified as deliberately spreading rumors to disrupt the system," the DM added.