Himachal Pradesh News
Himachal Board Class 10 Answer Sheet Tampering Confirmed, HPBOSE Orders Action
In a shocking development from Himachal Pradesh, the Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education (HPBOSE) has officially confirmed that Class 10 answer sheets of students from Government High School, Jeora, in Bilaspur district were deliberately tampered with after the evaluation process was completed.
In a shocking development from Himachal Pradesh, the Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education (HPBOSE) has officially confirmed that Class 10 answer sheets of students from Government High School, Jeora, in Bilaspur district were deliberately tampered with after the evaluation process was completed.
The revelation came after a high-level internal inquiry by the Board supported the findings of the Regional Forensic Science Laboratory (RFSL), Dharamsala, which had earlier detected manipulation in the evaluated answer sheets.
According to HPBOSE Chairman Dr. Rajesh Sharma, the investigation clearly established that the answer sheets of students who appeared in the March 2025 matriculation examination were altered intentionally after evaluation.
“The matter has been taken very seriously by the Board. Both the forensic investigation and the internal inquiry have confirmed tampering of answer sheets,” Dr. Sharma said.
Correct Answers Replaced With Wrong Responses
The inquiry report revealed disturbing details about how the manipulation was allegedly carried out. Students’ correct answers were reportedly struck off manually and replaced with incorrect responses, leading to a sharp drop in marks.
Several meritorious students who had consistently scored above 90 percent during the academic session suddenly received unexpectedly low marks in subjects like English and Art. This raised suspicion among parents and students, eventually leading to formal complaints.
The controversy mainly revolves around students from Government High School, Jeora, who appeared at the Jhandutta examination centre in Bilaspur district.
Major Irregularities Found in Answer Sheet Handling
The probe also uncovered serious irregularities in the handling and storage of answer sheets. Sources linked to the inquiry stated that the serial numbers printed on tamper-proof envelopes did not match the numbers recorded in official packing documents.
This mismatch has increased suspicion that answer sheet packets may have been exchanged either at the examination centre or during transportation and storage.
Education experts have described the incident as one of the most serious examination-related controversies in Himachal Pradesh in recent years.
Students Used RTI to Expose the Alleged Manipulation
The case gained momentum after nine students formally complained about suspected tampering in the MCQ section of their answer sheets.
Initially, re-evaluation resulted in only minor changes in marks. Unsatisfied with the outcome, students obtained photocopies of their answer sheets under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
The photocopies allegedly revealed visible manual alterations, prompting a forensic investigation. The RFSL examination later confirmed deliberate tampering in the answer sheets.
HPBOSE to Give Grace Marks to Affected Students
To provide relief to affected students, HPBOSE has decided to award grace marks in the impacted subjects.
The Board has also forwarded all inquiry documents to the Education Department for departmental and legal action against those found responsible.
The incident has triggered widespread concern among parents, students, and education authorities regarding the security and transparency of the examination evaluation process in the state.
