Minister in exam copying scam

CM asks Crime Branch to probe Peerzada denies allegation

Taking cognizance of the media reports about education minister using unfair means to get his son passed in 10th class examination chief minister Omar Abdullah has asked the minister to explain his position and has asked the Crime Branch to probe the matter.

However, education minister, Peerzada Mohammed Sayeed, denying the allegations has welcomed the decision of the CM to get the matter probed. An official handout said that the chief minister Omar Abdullah, taking strong cognizance of the report carried by a local daily, asked the top crime branch officials to probe the case and bring facts to fore. Besides, the handout said, chief minister issued an explanation to the education minister asking him to clear his position with regard to the matter.

“After the chief minister sought an explanation, Peerzada appeared before him and explained his position," sources said. The minister denied the allegations and told the CM that he will welcome the probe into the matter by crime branch of the police or any other investigating agency. 

“The reports were just an attempt to damage my credibility and I will fully cooperate if the matter is probed thoroughly by the crime branch,” sources quoted the minister as having told the CM. Pertinently the minister, a couple of years ago, remained in news for weeks after his name figured in the multi crore scam in education department.

A local English daily had carried the facsimile of an answer sheet in two handwritings -- alleging that part of it had been written by an education official to help his son pass the secondary school exam in 2009. 

It has been alleged that an official of the education department posted on exam duty had written part of the student's Urdu exam paper in order to help him pass the exam.

A complaint lodged by another teacher posted on duty at the centre was received by the authorities of the Jammu and Kashmir board of school examinations, but despite recommendations to withhold the result of the candidate, the authorities went ahead announcing that the candidate had passed the exam.