Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma downplayed the alleged leak of the Assam Direct Recruitment Examination (ADRE) 2024 question paper, cautioning that the real victims of media reports on the issue would be the candidates.
Speaking at a public event, Sarma said that attempts to malign the examination process would not affect him but would hurt the future prospects of the candidates.
“Some individuals are trying day and night to malign the ADRE exams. I thank them and wish them luck to go ahead with this, but they should remember that Himanta Biswa Sarma will not be affected by these malicious acts. It will be the candidates who will suffer,” Sarma said.
Describing himself as a “father figure” to the students, the Chief Minister expressed concern over the psychological impact such reports could have on the candidates.
“As a father figure, there is no way out for me but to be depressed over this. The exams were conducted successfully, and I am hopeful that the results will be good. The exams were over at 1:30 pm, while the question paper was circulated at around 2 pm. What is the value of a question after the exams are already over?” he asked.
Paper leak controversy
The controversy erupted after a question paper from the ADRE Class III examination held on 15 September was widely circulated on social media, sparking concerns of a leak.
Authorities confirmed that a used question paper with booklet number 1035034 was shared on social media at 4:15 pm on 16 September, over 30 hours after the exam concluded.
The paper was timestamped at 2:17 pm on 15 September, indicating it was photographed after the exam had ended.
The incident raised eyebrows given the extensive security arrangements in place for the examination, including a large deployment of personnel, CCTV surveillance, and an internet shutdown from 10 am to 1:30 pm to prevent any breach.
SEBA responds
The Principal Examination Controller of SEBA (Board of Secondary Education, Assam) stated that the ADRE-2024 examination had been successfully conducted.
"All used and unused OMR answer sheets, attendance sheets, and reports were packed and sealed under strict supervision," the SEBA official clarified.
"These materials were sent to central strong rooms in the respective District Commissioner offices immediately after the examination," the official added.
The statement further assured that after 1:30 pm on 15 September, the question papers were no longer confidential.
“Mobile internet services were suspended from 10 am to 1:30 pm, ruling out any possibility of uploads or transfers before or during the exam,” the statement maintained.
Arrests made
Meanwhile, 13 people, including a woman, have been arrested in connection with the paper leak. The arrests followed SEBA’s clarification that the papers were uploaded to social media after the examination ended.
Chief Minister Sarma, speaking after donating blood at GMCH, noted, "I have instructed SEBA to allow candidates to take question papers home with them." He also suggested that someone from the media might be behind the leak, which, he claimed, was driving the youth away from the press.
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