In the case of grave lapse on part of the J&K Board of School Education (JKBOSE) leading to the cancellation of Class 12th examination paper across the Union Territory after one of the question papers distributed among the students turned out to be of 11th standard, speculations are rife whether it was a mistake at the packing level or setting up of the paper or a ploy to defame the prestigious education board of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Although Administrative Secretary, School Education Department, Dr Piyush Singla has ordered an inquiry to investigate into the matter and fix responsibility for the negligence, the loss of students is colossal as 12th class result is considered to be the stepping stone of the career of a student and such phlegmatic attitude of the board in this crucial stage is unacceptable as the loss to aspirants is irreparable because each day matters during this critical stage of life of students. Besides, the Chairman JKBOSE has also constituted a three-member committee of Joint Secretaries to look into the negligence and submit a report within seven days looking into the gravity of the blunder but those sitting at helm must ensure that inquiries ordered must probe the matter substantially and accountability should be set from top to bottom as making a ‘menial entity' responsible for this irreparable damage will neither deliver justice nor set a precedent to deter others from taking things so lightly in such critical matters, wherein careers of thousands of students of J&K and even Ladakh were at stake. In this case, the possibility of sabotage cannot be ruled out because there are many factors which should be taken care of while holding the investigations by the aforesaid committees. The need of the time is to make sure that no one is made scapegoat and if there is any malign or malicious intent behind this gaffe, the perpetrators should be exposed without any exception.
It is pertinent to mention that JKBOSE had hurriedly ordered cancellation of the annual regular examination of Class 12th for the Physical Education subject soon after the candidates appearing in the exam vociferously raised the issue before their Centre Superintendents who immediately brought the matter into the notice of concerned authorities. As far as packing error or paper setting error is concerned, no entity in this entire gamut is illiterate or novice to allow such a blunder to happen therefore a callous conspiracy theory cannot be ruled out to malign the image of some higher up in the institutions dealing with this sensitive matter. Whatever was the reason behind this grievous error will come to fore after a thorough inquiry but what is to be taken care of in future is that such things should not repeat and dent the careers of the aspiring candidates at the crucial junctures of their lives.
