Hubballi: In contrast to the usual scenarios witnessed at PU exam centres seen bustling with students and limited staff personnel a rare scene was seen at GE PU College in in Kalghatagi taluk in Dharwad district where 28 officials eagerly awaited the arrival of a lone student who remained conspicuous by his absence.
Nagappa Lamani, a student of GE PU college, was the lone candidate scheduled to undertake the exam at the centre on Saturday for the optional Education subject.However even as the officials awaited his arrival for a long time Lamani did not turn up to take the exams.
Rules permit a candidate to walk in to the exam hall up to half an hour late but Lamani did not turn up even within this grace period. However 18 of the officials had to remain at the centre till the exam hours were over at 1.30 pm. They were the static staff deployed at the GE PU College.
For quite a while, even the other officials — the tahsildar, a block education officer, a medical officer, two vigilance squad members, five mobile squad staff and a constable — waited for the candidate. Usually, the tahsildar, vigilance squad members and the BEO pay surprise visit to the exam centre whereas the static staff, medical officer and security staff stay at the centre till the day’s exams are over.
Ganesh Pujar, deputy director of the state Board of the Pre-University Education, told DH that an exam centre with a single registered candidate appearing for the exam was very rare.
As arrangements were made in view of the question paper leak last year, many officials had to spend time in GE PU College centre for the entire duration of the exam, though nobody appeared for the exam.
