The Board of School Education Haryana (BSEH) has launched a major vigilance investigation into suspected financial misconduct linked to the implementation of the on-screen marking (OSM) system for the 2024 Class X and XII board examinations. The move, which is believed to have drained approximately Rs 70 lakh from the state treasury, has been labeled "open loot" by the board's current leadership.
Exposing the Cost Discrepancy
Official records reveal a shocking disparity in evaluation costs. A private company, MS Learning Private Limited, was paid Rs 70 per answer sheet for digitally evaluating around 1 lakh sheets. In stark contrast, the board's traditional manual evaluation process costs only about Rs 15 per sheet. This unexplained and massive price hike prompted the current board chairperson, Pawan Sharma, to order the probe after reviewing past decisions.
Flawed Process and Alleged Manipulation
An internal preliminary check has uncovered severe procedural violations in the tender process. Allegations include manipulating the bidding by negotiating with the second-lowest bidder to become the lowest, permitting technically unqualified agencies to bid, and arbitrarily reducing the number of competing firms from three to two to benefit specific parties. All these actions reportedly flouted standard procurement rules.
Chairperson Sharma stated that when the payment file reached him, he noticed serious audit objections. It was discovered that similar red flags had been raised earlier but were allegedly ignored. He further claimed that the auditor who initially flagged the issue was transferred, and payments were processed under the previous board administration.
Infrastructure Gaps and Future Implications
Sharma also highlighted the board's current lack of readiness for large-scale digital evaluation, pointing to insufficient computer labs and trained staff. He noted that many teachers have already expressed objections to the on-screen marking method. Interestingly, in April 2024, the board had announced the introduction of digital evaluation from the next academic session to boost transparency and efficiency.
The board of directors has now officially declared the OSM decision as "wrong" in a recent meeting. They have sanctioned the vigilance inquiry to pinpoint the officials who processed the file and authorized the payments despite the glaring financial consequences. Sharma has firmly asserted that responsibility will be fixed and strict action will be taken against the guilty.
The matter has been formally handed over to a state government vigilance officer for a thorough investigation.
