THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday said mobile phones, purse, watch, stationary and food items will be banned in Public Service Commission(PSC) examination halls.
In a written reply to Congress's Anwar Sadath in Assembly, the Chief Minister said the PSC will take further action on these measures.
Mr Vijayan's announcement comes in the wake of Crime Branch recommendation for complete overhaul of PSC examination system. Seating pattern will be changed
and it will be ensured details of the arrangement are not disclosed to candidates in advance.
The Crime Branch had recommended that WI-FI /mobile jammers should be installed in examination centres especially in places where tests for senior posts are conducted. For all other centres, irrespective of the level of tests, close circuit cameras should be installed in the premises.
The Crime Branch had hinted that irregularities and malpractices could be curbed effectively if PSC exams are made online. There should be a ban on electronic gadgets in examination halls.
The Crime Branch has also recommended that candidates coming to take the exams should be subjected to proper checking and frisking for electronic gadgets, smart watches, cell phones and blue tooth ear piece. There needs to be proper checking of shoes, belts and buttons.
The seating arrangement in examination halls need to be changed and revised. The Crime Branch had pointed out that if the candidates are able to acquire details of the seating arrangements ahead of examinations, the possibility of fraud and malpractices will be high.
The Crime Branch has proposed that qualified and trained staff should be given charge as invigilators. Besides, steps should be taken to deploy at least one PSC officials in each centre.
Another important suggestion was that the exact number of unused question papers after the completion of examination, should be properly enlisted in the form which is meant for listing articles returned to the PSC.
This could curb the practice of people throwing question papers out of the windows while tests are in progress and get the answers on mobile phones.
The Crime Branch has stated that while returning OMR answer sheets the hard disks should also be sent. The PSC should keep these articles under safe custody till the expiry of rank list.
