On Monday, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, speaking about the Bihar topper scam, said that the state government has accepted it as a challenge to conduct future examinations fairly. However, he also added that he has “miles to go to plug all loopholes”.
Significantly, this is the second scam in regards to Bihar’s education system. Earlier, state board Arts topper Ruby Rai was arrested on similar charges. Notably, this year’s state board topper was also arrested on Friday on the charge of appearing for the examination with forged documents.
Just like last year when Ruby Rai had pronounced political science as “prodigal science”, which she said, was about cooking, this year’s topper Ganesh Kumar struggled to explain the basics of music, one of his subjects. Additionally, Ganesh, who is 42-year-old, appeared in the exam on fabricated certificates which showed him to be of 24 years, to secure a government job. He has been sent to jail and the principal and other officials of the Samastipur school from where he appeared for the examination was also arrested.
“We have taken the episode (toppers scam for second consecutive year) as a challenge to conduct exams in the future more effectively. We focused on checking question paper leaks and bungling in the evaluation process. But wrongdoers find ways somehow,” Nitish Kumar said.
“We have miles to go to plug all loopholes and conduct the exam in a free and fair manner. We do not believe in casting a veil on the shortcomings. As soon as irregularity regarding the arts topper Ganesh Kumar surfaced, I directed officials not to waste time in ordering a probe and to lodge a FIR and arrest the wrongdoers involved in the exam racket,” he added.
