HED for inquiry against Rawalpindi Board officials for extra marks to minister’s son

LAHORE: The Higher Education Department (HED) Punjab has sent a summary to the Punjab chief minister to hold an inquiry against the top management of the Rawalpindi Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE) for awarding extra marks to the son of Fayyaz-ul-Hasan Chohan, Punjab Minister for Information & Culture, in practical section of the Intermediate Examination in September this year.

The HED has recommended action under the Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability (PEEDA Act, 2006. Sources in the HED Punjab said there were sufficient grounds to proceed against the chairman, secretary, controller of examination and some other employees including examiners of the BISE Rawalpindi owing to which the department moved the summary to the CM as he was the competent authority.

The BISE Rawalpindi had announced the results of Intermediate Annual Examination 2019 in September. In the case of Fayyaz-ul-Hasan Chohan’s son, the sub-examiner had awarded 14 marks, out of 30, in the Physics practical, while the head examiner had made it 30 out of 30, in the name of rechecking. This led to his total marks jumping to 789 from 773 marks, owing to which his result was withheld.

During the initial probe, the head-examiner was held responsible for awarding additional marks to the minister’s son. In the light of the probe report, the result was subsequently reversed and the candidate was issued result card with 773 as total marks obtained.

Sources in the HED Punjab further said the probe had confirmed violation of rules owing to which it was decided to hold an inquiry under the Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability Act 2006, known as the PEEDA Act.

They added the CM was the competent authority to order the inquiry under PEEDA Act as he was the appointing authority. They further said the CM could appoint senior bureaucrat/s to hold an inquiry.

When contacted Special Secretary HED Punjab Sajid Zafar Daal, who is holding additional charge of the post of secretary HED Punjab, confirmed that the department had moved a summary, recommending an inquiry against the BISE Rawalpindi officers and other employees under the PEEDA Act. He said the department was also contemplating to revert to grading system in the practical portion of exam instead of marks system.