Ludhiana: Student sends friend to write PSEB Class 10 exam, caught during inspection
When the superintendent checked the roll number slip placed on her desk, he found that the photograph on the slip did not match the face of the student writing the exam
PTC Web Desk: A case of impersonation during the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) Class 10 examinations has come to light in Ludhiana, where a student allegedly sent her friend to appear in the exam in her place. The incident was detected during a routine inspection at Government High School in Sarabha Nagar.
According to officials, the exam was being conducted on March 9 when the centre superintendent, Bhupinder Pal Singh, along with his inspection team, carried out a surprise check in the examination rooms. During the verification process, the team noticed suspicious behaviour from a girl seated at one of the desks.
When the superintendent checked the roll number slip placed on her desk, he found that the photograph on the slip did not match the face of the student writing the exam. This immediately raised suspicion, prompting further questioning.
During the preliminary inquiry, it was revealed that the girl appearing in the examination was not the registered candidate. Instead, she had allegedly been sent by the actual student to write the paper on her behalf.
Following the discovery, the centre superintendent prepared a formal report regarding the impersonation and cheating attempt. Initially, the matter was handled internally within the education department. However, once senior officials were informed, they directed that legal action be initiated.
Later in the evening, a written complaint was submitted to the police at Police Station No. 5 in Ludhiana, leading to the registration of a case against both students.
The police have registered the case under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Section 319(2) for impersonation to commit fraud, Section 318(2) related to cheating and dishonesty, and Section 61(2) for criminal conspiracy.
Investigators are now questioning both students to determine whether the impersonation involved any financial transaction or if the act was carried out simply to help a friend clear the examination.
Officials from the education department said strict instructions had already been issued on February 25 to ensure the integrity of board examinations. They reiterated that any attempt to compromise the fairness of the exam process would invite strict action. The detailed report has also been forwarded to the board, while the police continue their investigation to determine whether more individuals were involved in the incident.