Daijiworld Media Network - Raichur (SP)

Raichur, Apr 4: SSLC examination began 15 minutes late in Sindhanur taluk in the district on Monday, April 3 on account of the irresponsibility of sub-treasury officer.

The problem occurred as Amare Gowda, who held key of the treasury where question papers had been kept safety, went away from the headquarters without keeping anyone informed. Later, the lock of his residence was broken open to get the key of the treasury. By the time treasury was opened and question papers were delivered to centres, it was 15 minutes past exam commencement time.

The question papers, like in all other taluks, were kept in the strong room of the sub-treasury. Sub-treasury officer, Amare Gowda, had left Sindhanur,where he has a house, without informing officials in charge of the examination, duly making use of the weekly off on Sunday. When block education officer and other officials arrived at the sub-treasury office at 7 am on Monday as per procedure, they were in for a surprise as key of the treasury was not available. Tahsildar, Shankarappa, too reached the spot at 7.30 am but Amare Gowda was conspicuous by his absence. As per instructions, question papers had to be delivered at examination centres by 8.30 am. Attempts to contact Amare Gowda on phone failed.

At 8.35 am, an official of the treasury could contact the sub-treasury officer over phone, but he did not have the key of the office. It was kept in his residence. The key of the residence was taken away by Gowda's wife, who was on a visit to her parental home. Therefore, after Amare Gowda rushed to the venue, in his presence, lock of his house was broken open at 8.40 am, key of the sub-treasury office was brought out, and question papers were taken out at 8.45 am.

It is gathered that Amare Gowda had been away at his native place, Mallapur in the taluk. His wife had left to her parental home at Koppal, duly taking the key of the house with her.

Block education officer of Sindhanur, Somashekhara Gowda, said that there was a ten-minute delay in starting examination in the taluk on Monday and a report about the same was furnished to deputy director of public instruction. Taking serious note of this incident, Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board has decided to open question papers in the presence of respective tahsildars beginning Tuesday.