Hyderabad, 27 July
Exam OMR Sheets Found on PVNR Expressway; TGPSC Orders Probe
The Telangana Public Service Commission (TGPSC) has ordered an internal probe after original OMR sheets from a recruitment examination were reportedly found scattered along a roadside on Hyderabad’s PVNR Expressway.
The documents were reportedly from the 2018 recruitment examination for Hostel Welfare Officers. They were discovered on Saturday, July 25, along the stretch between Shivampalli and the Arranghar underpass on the PVNR Expressway.
The incident has raised concerns as the OMR sheets contained sensitive examination-related information, including candidate names, hall ticket numbers, paper codes and invigilators’ signatures.
OMR Sheets Found Scattered on Roadside; Exam OMR Sheets Found on PVNR Expressway; TGPSC Orders Probe
A video of the incident showed a police official collecting the OMR sheets from the roadside. The visuals also appeared to show people picking up some of the documents.
The presence of original examination records in a public area has raised questions about whether proper procedures were followed while disposing of the documents.
The OMR sheets reportedly belonged to the 2018 examination conducted for the recruitment of Hostel Welfare Officers.
Examination Records Were Supposed to Be Shredded
Under the usual procedure, OMR sheets are torn into small pieces after an examination before being sent for recycling as scrap.
However, in this case, the sheets appear to have been transported to Vijayawada for recycling without being shredded first.
According to a report by the Hyderabad Mail, TGPSC Secretary R Sumathi said the commission had directed the Superintendent of Police concerned to investigate the incident and submit a report within three days.
Sumathi explained that the papers had been transported in white plastic bags and that some OMR sheets appeared to have fallen onto the road because the bags were not properly tied.
TGPSC Orders Internal Inquiry
The TGPSC secretary said the records had already been marked for destruction and, therefore, the commission did not file a police complaint over the incident. Exam OMR Sheets Found on PVNR Expressway; TGPSC Orders Probe.
However, an internal inquiry has been ordered to determine how the examination documents ended up scattered along the PVNR Expressway. Exam OMR Sheets Found on PVNR Expressway; TGPSC Orders Probe.
The commission is expected to examine the process followed while transporting the records and determine whether any official or agency failed to follow the prescribed disposal procedure.
Officials May Face Action
The TGPSC has said that those found negligent will face appropriate action based on the findings of the inquiry.
The incident has drawn attention to the importance of securely handling examination records, particularly documents containing personal and examination-related information of candidates.
The commission’s investigation is expected to establish how the OMR sheets were transported, why they were not shredded before being sent for recycling and who was responsible for ensuring their safe disposal.