Bhubaneswar: Reports of seizure of a mobile phone from a candidate at a centre in Deogarh district during the Odisha Teacher Eligibility Test (OTET) 2021 examination conducted by the Board Of Secondary Education (BSE) created a flutter on Friday.
It is alleged that the ‘D’ set question paper of the first sitting exam was leaked from Government Girls’ High School centre in Deogarh district. The question paper was allegedly received on mobile phones much before the completion of the first sitting exam today.
A female candidate has reportedly been booked on charges of taking photographs of the question paper. Though it is still unclear whether the question paper was leaked or not, the district education officer (DEO) said that the mobile phone of the candidate has been seized for analysis and necessary action.
“We have not seen if the question paper was leaked or not. But we have seized the mobile phone of a female candidate at around 8:30 am. We found the photograph of the question paper in her mobile phone and we are reviewing all aspects,” Sikarendra Chatia, BEO Tilibani, who was posted as observer at the Govt Girls’ High School during the examination, said.
The District Education Officer (DEO) Sachidananda Behera said, “I have learnt that a mobile phone has been seized from a female candidate. I got a report from the Centre observer at around 9:15 am. We do not know whether the question paper has gone viral on social media. We will send the mobile to the Board for further course of action.”
However, BSE president Ramashis Hazra has reportedly refuted allegations of question paper leak.
Around 1,25,880 candidates appeared for the Odisha Teacher Eligibility Test (OTET) 2021 conducted by the Board Of Secondary Education (BSE) at 491 exam centres across the State on Friday amid strict adherence to Covid-19 protocols.
As per official sources, candidates were scheduled to attend two papers of the OTET – Paper-I And Paper-II in two shifts. The first shift was held between 8 am to 10.30 am while the second sitting has been scheduled between 12 pm and 2.30 pm.