GUWAHATI, Feb 11 - With the HS Final exams commencing tomorrow, the Assam Higher Secondary Educational Council (AHSEC) has banned use of mobile phones, watches and all sorts of electronic devices by students as well as teachers in the examination halls.
Equipped with closed circuit cameras and mobile phone jammers to ensure �no technology sneak� on the examination centre premises, AHSEC has allowed only the supervising officer and the centre in-charge to carry mobile phones within the premises.
Briefing the media on AHSEC�s exam preparedness, its Chairman Dayananda Borgohain said that since there is a possibility of misuse of android watches at the exam centres, entry of all sorts of watches has also been restricted.
This year 2,42,843 students will appear in the HS Final exams at 772 centres and 20 other venues. Of these students 1,11,598 hail from families below poverty line.
As part of the security measures, closed circuit cameras will monitor the examination halls from two sides and mobile phone jammers will be deployed at 25 examination centres identified as hyper sensitive. Such centres will also be under 144 CrPC within a 50-metre radius to ensure security and sanctity of the exams.
AHSEC Secretary Kamal Gogoi said that introduction of provisions for online form filling has further streamlined the entire process.
�Last year, there were 833 centres, but this time the number has been reduced to 772. Altogether 61 centres have been dropped this year, where we found a possibility of adoption of unfair means or some other logistical issues. The decision to drop the centres was taken after a thorough inquiry by the district authorities and us, despite acute pressure from different quarters,� he added.
Since newer ways of adopting unfair means through misuse of technology are coming to light, AHSEC has formed a Cyber Intelligence Committee headed by former IGP Satyen Gogoi. Technologically assisted by cyber experts from Delhi, the committee will be helped by the Assam Police�s CID.
�At some places where mobile phones are sneaked in somehow, and pictures are clicked and sent outside after the exam starts, it is regarded as paper leak. Now, if any such incident takes place, we will be able to immediately find out the places and where such messages are generated,� he mentioned.
A total of 924 supervising officers and 33 observers will monitor the entire exam process in 33 districts. Flying squads to be headed by the DC of every district will also keep an eye on the entire process.
The All Guwahati Students� Union also extended its best wishes to the HS candidates.
