WBBSE suspends errant headmaster

MP | Kolkata: The West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE) on Thursday suspended the headmaster of Maynaguri Subhasnagar High School Haridayal Roy, on charges of opening the seal of question papers much before the scheduled time. He had allegedly made question papers of more than one subject available to the topper of the school, during the Madhyamik examination a few months ago.

"We have suspended Roy and disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against him," said Kalyanmoy Ganguly, president of WBBSE, who had led the enquiry that was conducted in this regard.

The WBBSE also announced strong action against some others who, according to the probe, were involved in the entire matter. The Board has started disciplinary proceedings against Biswajit Roy, the English teacher of the school who had videographed the strongroom of the school, where the question papers were kept. It may be mentioned that during the enquiry, Roy had admitted his wrongful act.

"Samrat Biswas, the history teacher of the school, who had given contradictory statements regarding the matter during the probe, is being handed over 'stricture.' He has been warned that if he is found to be involved in similar acts in future, strong action will be taken against him," a senior WBBSE official said.

At the same time, the School Education department has showcaused sub-inspector of school of the region Biswanath Bhowmick. He has been directed to respond to the showcause within three days.

"Bhowmick has been found guilty of making statements without verification of facts and has even spoken to a number of media persons, which has given a wrong message regarding the entire matter," the official added.

The WBBSE has also not spared Mantu Roy, the additional venue supervisor, for dereliction of duty. "We have started disciplinary

proceedings against him," Ganguly

said.

However, Board officials remained tight lipped on the allegations of question paper leak that had been triggered as the seal of the papers were opened before the scheduled time.

A number of teachers of Maynaguri School in Jalpaiguri district had been vocal against Roy and had told the Board that he had provided undue benefit to the topper of the school through his act and demanded exemplary punishment for him.

It may be recalled that state Education minister Partha Chatterjee had condemned the incident and had said that if the accused teacher is found guilty, then the Shiksha Ratna award conferred upon him will be taken back.