Niyati Shivhare
Patna: Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) chairman Parmar Ravi Manubhai has dismissed calls to cancel the 70th Integrated Combined Competitive Examination (CCE) 2024, held earlier this month amid controversy over alleged question paper leaks.
The exam will proceed, with a re-examination scheduled for January 4 for candidates who were assigned to the Bapu Examination Complex Center on December 13.
This follows disruptions at the center that day, including the death of an on-duty officer from a heart attack.
“There is no question of canceling the entire BPSC examination,” Manubhai clarified. “The decision to re-examine candidates at the Bapu Center was taken due to unruly behavior from some candidates, which we believe was part of a conspiracy to disrupt the exam.”
Approximately 12,000 candidates will participate in the re-examination at a different location within the city.
Show Cause Notices Issued
The BPSC has issued show cause notices to 34 candidates allegedly involved in the disruptions at the Bapu Center.
“All 34 students have been asked to respond to the show cause notice by December 26,” Manubhai said. “The Commission will then review their responses and take appropriate action. In cases where no response is received, the Commission will make a decision based on available evidence.”
Protests Continue Despite Re-examination Plan
Despite the Commission’s decision, a group of candidates continues to demand the cancellation of the entire December 13 exam.
They have been staging a sit-in protest in Gardnibagh for several days, arguing that re-examining only a single center would be unfair and violate the principle of equal opportunity.
Independent MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav has publicly supported the protesters.
However, the Patna district administration has stated that a significant portion of the protesters are not even exam candidates.
On Monday, some protesters allegedly entered Gardnibagh Hospital, harassed medical staff, and damaged property.
Three individuals involved in the protest – Rahul Kumar (32 years-old), Ashutosh Anand (35 years-old), and Sujeet alias Tsunami Guru (40 years-old) – are currently receiving treatment at Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH).
Two Arrests Made
Meanwhile, Patna Police have arrested two individuals for creating chaos during the December 13 exam at the Bapu Center.
“A case was registered at Agamkuan police station on December 14 regarding the disturbances,” said Patna Superintendent of Police (SP) Shubhank Mishra.
“Based on technical investigation and footage from 11 cameras installed at the center, we identified Ashwini Kumar and Mohammad Faiyaz and subsequently arrested them.”
The SP stated that the footage clearly shows the two individuals leaving the examination hall with question papers and inciting other candidates not to submit their papers, spreading rumours that the exam would be cancelled.
