WB Police Constable Exam Controversy: OMR Sheet Issue Sparks Investigation

The police recruitment exam in West Bengal saw controversy long before November 30, (the date of the WB Police Constable Recruitment Exam). This latest scrutiny of the WB Police Constable Recruitment Exam has reached a new level; it is being investigated.

The state assembly leader of the opposition, Suvendu Adhikari claims there were major inconsistencies during the exam process that indicates that this was not an accident but "irregularities by design".

Why did the controversy escalate after the exam of WB Police Constable?

Initially, the exam seemed to be going just fine; however, within a few days, it caused quite a stir both on social media and within political circles. The stir primarily stemmed from the fact that the carbon copies of the OMR sheets did not have serial numbers on them.

In response to the controversy, Suvendu Adhikari conducted a press conference where he expressed concern that the carbon copies issued to candidates did not display any identifying numbers (serial numbers) as needed.

He stated, “The absence of a serial number on the carbon copy makes it easier to switch out the original OMR sheet, which then creates the potential for tampering with results.” Such claims have again brought the ongoing job politics of the state to the forefront.

The OMR Sheet Controversy—Why So Important?

The OMR sheet is the most delicate element of any competitive examination.

Each candidate who takes the Exam receives a duplicate carbon copy to capture the answers of the Exam. This process is important for the transparent nature of the Competitive Examination.

However, if the duplicate carbon copy does not have a serial number, it:

• It is impossible to identify which candidate's sheet matches which original OMR sheet.
• An official or any other person involved in the manipulation can replace the original sheet.
• Even if a candidate later shows the carbon copy, they will not be able to prove that the sheet belonged to them.

Suvendu Adhikari says that this arrangement appears to have been deliberate, as such an oversight cannot be coincidental.

Adhikari's allegation: "The door has been opened for unfair means to obtain jobs."

OMR copies without a serial number means "Marks may be changed. People who are looking to gain employment through unfair means rather than going through the proper channels will now benefit from this," said Suvendu Adhikari.

He referred to this as an "administrative failure" of the Mamata Banerjee government and said, "If there is not a change in government, there will be little hope for qualified and hard-working youth of West Bengal to find employment".

In his comments, he said, "This is not just about the recruitment exams; this is about the future of the many unemployed young men and women in this state."

Assured legal assistance for candidates

At a press conference, Adhikari stated that if candidates want, they can file a public interest litigation in this regard, and that the BJP will offer legal support to them on this matter.

Several candidates expressed this issue via various social media platforms, while others published copies of OMR's which do not display serial numbers.

Questions have been raised about recruitment exams in past years as well.

In West Bengal, there have been multiple allegations of irregularities in the recruitment processes for various departments including SSC (School Service Commission), etc., Health Department, Panchayat and many more over the last few years. The latest controversy related to police recruitment exams is causing another wave of doubt among young people today.

The government was also cornered on a different issue.

In addition to questioning the Police recruitment examination, Suvendu Adhikari has also raised concerns about how students can be admitted into Engineering Colleges. He claims that the Government of West Bengal purposely delayed the admissions processes in order to force many deserving students to go out of state for admission purposes.

Therefore,

• the migration of talented students from the state is increasing,
• qualified students are not getting seats on time,
• and administrative negligence is directly affecting the education system.

Potential for increasing political conflict

Exams are no longer a one-off issue; they have become part of the broader government versus opposition political strife.

At this time, the Trinamool Congress has yet to reply formally regarding this claim, but political analysts are watching this situation closely and believe that an intense discussion between the two parties could be forthcoming in the near future.

The allegations of irregularities related to such a sensitive process as Police Recruitment Exams certainly will have an effect on the public's perception of the administration. Furthermore, the opposition can use this issue to galvanise interest among the youth of the state by presenting it as a critical issue for young people.

What is the current situation?

• The Exam Board has yet to provide clarity on how to deal with missing serial numbers.
• A significant number of candidates have provided documentation requesting an investigation.
• This could develop into a long-term PIL if that becomes necessary.

Conclusion

The situation surrounding the WB Police recruitment examination raises many questions about issues related to the expectations of the unemployed youth in our state, the level of transparency in our system, and the trust of the public in the government.

Unless and until educational/recruitment bodies provide satisfactory resolution on these matters, this concern will continue to be an issue that the government's actions will dictate in the near future - will they conduct an investigation into these claims, will this issue be litigated in court, and will the candidates receive responses from the recruitment providers regarding their complaints?

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