EXAM SCAM : Stokes seeks judicial probe

Shimla Leader of the Opposition Vidya Stokes has demanded a judicial probe into the worst-ever scandal in the State Board of School Education in which certificates were awarded to those candidates who had not even appeared in the examination.Expressing concern over the scam which had shaken the confidence of the people on the board, she said only a thorough inquiry by a sitting or retired judge of the high court could find out the culprits. She said the chairperson of the board should be removed forthwith and the probe should find out his role in the scandal.She said the inquiry by an IAS officer, ordered by the BJP government, was nothing but a cover-up exercise and its only aim was to give a clean chit to the board and the government. It was obvious that employees of the board were involved in the scam and the government must sack them without delay and give them exemplary punishment after conducting inquiry.Rogue academies and schools were selling certificates freely to the students in connivance with board employees but the chairperson had not resigned and the government had also not sacked him which was quite shocking, she said.The Dhumal government had by reinstating corrupt officers sent the wrong signals and such action would only encourage corruption which had become the biggest hurdle in way of speedy development, she added.