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results, the senior BJP leader alleged termediate examination results, had The National Human Rights Com-
that there was an effort to shield the submitted its report on April 27. “The mission (NHRC) has issued a notice to
guilty. Claiming that over 20 students three-member committee to look into the Telangana government over the
have committed suicide reportedly after the developments that took place after reported goof-up in the intermediate
failing in exams or scoring poor marks, the announcement of Intermediate re- exam results which allegedly led 18 stu-
a Congress-led opposition delegation, sults gave its report. It is under the con- dents to commit suicide since March
has also demanded that Governor ESL sideration of the government,” Education this year. The commission said it has
Narasimhan order a judicial probe into Secretary B Janardhan Reddy had said. taken cognisance on its own over media
the matter. “Very soon, we will definitely share their reports that 18 students, who had failed
The panel was appointed after the recommendations and the Action Taken in the examinations conducted by the
alleged bungling in the announcement Report,” he added. Board of Intermediate Education, have
of the results, which led to widespread The 10-page report emphasised on allegedly committed suicide amid mas-
criticism from students, parents, stu- the measures to be taken in future (to sive protests in the state.
dents’ organisations and political parties. ensure smooth conduct of exams). The “The commission has issued a notice
The exams were conducted during Feb- alleged bungling in examination results to the chief secretary, government of
ruary and March this year and the results led to protests by students, parents, stu- Telangana, calling for a detailed report in
were declared on April 18. dents’ organisations and political parties. the matter within four weeks, including
Blaming TRS working president KT Some students claimed that they either action taken against the guilty and relief,
Rama Rao for the goof-up in the dec- failed or got poor marks though they if any, provided to the aggrieved families,”
laration of results, the opposition par- the commission said in a press release. It
ties-- Congress, Telangana TDP, TJS and said that about three lakh students have
CPI had Saturday announced they would Suicides have reportedly failed in the exams and they,
stage a demonstration in front of the TS- triggered protests along with parents, are staging protests
BIE office on April 29 to protest the “mis- there.
management” by the Board. from parents and “It has observed that the contents of
Rama Rao reacting to questions on students, who blame the news reports, if true, raise the issues
twitter said, “I was as agonised as anyone of serious lapse on the part of the author-
else in our state. What happened was that faulty evaluation ities amounting to violation of human
truly unfortunate. Now that GOVT ap- system led to the rights,” the release said. “The National
pointed committee has submitted its re- Human Rights Commission has taken
port, action should be taken on those that failure of 3.28 lakh suo motu cognisance of a media report
are responsible.” In a series of tweets, Rao that 18 students have committed suicide
also said what happened was “tragic” and students out of since March 2019 who have reportedly
those responsible should be punished. 9.74 lakh examinees failed in the intermediate examinations
“I am a parent too and I can under- conducted by the Board of Intermediate
stand the pain of those that have lost Education (BIE), as large-scale discrep-
their children.” Speaking to reporters had done well in exams and obtained ancies have triggered furore in the state,”
here, All India Congress Committee high marks in Intermediate first year. the commission said.
(AICC) in-charge of Telangana R C Khun- Opposition Congress, TDP, BJP and other Referring to media reports, the com-
tia said his party supports the ‘Chalo parties complained to Governor ESL Nar- mission said several students failed to
Intermediate Board’ protest. “The gov- asimhan and sought a judicial probe into even get pass marks in the examina-
ernment appointed committee is the alleged goof-up. The Congress-led tion and aggrieved students have also
accepting there is mistake. But no action delegation claimed that as many as 20 approached the high court there.
is taken by the Telangana government. students committed suicide in the after- “As mentioned in the news report,
Who is responsible?” he asked. math of the announcement of results. around 10 lakh students took the Class
Seeking resignation of the Education The exams were conducted during 12 exam in February 2018, and nearly 3.5
Minister, he said the protests would con- February and March this year and the re- lakh have failed, making it a gigantic task
tinue until action was initiated against sults were announced on April 18. There for the board to conduct supplementary
the guilty. In a related development, Op- have been allegations of bungling in the exams for such a large number of stu-
position party leaders Sunday met fam- announcement of the results. The gov- dents,” it said, adding that time was also
ily members of some students in the city, ernment has announced that failed stu- running out for students who have to ap-
who had allegedly committed suicides. dents need not apply for re-counting and pear in competitive entrance exams like
The three-member committee, con- re-verification. Thousands of students, NEET and JEE.
stituted by the Telangana government who passed the examination, have also
to look into the discrepancies in the In- applied for re-verification. letters@tehelka.com

Tehelka / 15 may 2019 51 www.Tehelka.com