Stating that it has come to his knowledge only now that “grace marks” were awarded by the evaluators in some answer scripts of II Pre-university mathematics paper, Department of Pre-University Education (DPUE) Director Rame Gowda on Monday told the High Court of Karnataka that it was done due to the decision taken by the “evaluating body” to go ahead with “liberal evaluation” of some the questions.
“It transpires that the Chief Examiners (CEs) and the Deputy Chief Examiners, in a meeting on April 20, 2016, just before the evaluation of mathematics answer scripts and while formulating the scheme of evaluation, decided to go ahead with ‘liberal evaluation’ of question numbers 3, 13, 16, 20, 24, 43, 33 and 49(b),” Mr. Rame Gowda has said in his statement submitted before the court on Monday.
Pointing out that the CEs had not brought to his notice their “resolution” passed on April 20 for “liberal evaluation” of some of the questions, Mr. Rame Gowda said it appears to be a “bona fide omission” on the part of the CEs owing to the “tense situation” prevailing then due to the strike by the lecturers, media report on alleged leakage of question papers, protests by parents and students for early evaluation and result, and stringent measures taken by the DPUE for early evaluation.
As his predecessor had on March 19 conveyed the DPUE’s decision against grant of any grace marks , Mr. Rame Gowda said he was, till recently, under the impression that no grace mark was awarded, and this had resulted in “miscommunication” to the government counsel.
Mr. Rame Gowda said he learnt about the “resolution” passed by the CEs and DCEs for “liberal evaluation” only after he made enquiries after an application was filed before the court complaining that he had made “false” submission to the court that “no grace mark” was awarded.
Bhuvanjyothi Education Trust from Mudbidiri in Dakshina Kannada district had filed the application complaining against Mr. Rame Gowda on June 14, along with the photocopies of answer scripts, which had specific reference to the award of “grace marks”.
A Division Bench has restored the PIL for hearing as the Advocate-General made a submission in this regard and adjourned further hearing to June 23.
