File image: Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA).
Bengaluru: The Karnataka Examinations Authority has asked the Haveri Deputy Commissioner to investigate doubts raised over a candidate’s Village Administrative Officer examination marks, while saying its checks so far showed that the candidate appeared personally and his OMR answer sheet was in order.
The inquiry follows questions on social media over a candidate who secured 151 marks in the VAO recruitment test after scoring 25 in the KSRP constable examination. KEA Executive Director H Prasanna has sought a review of CCTV footage and a comprehensive report on whether any irregularities occurred at the examination centre.
KEA says identity and OMR checks were in order
The candidate, Shankar Bannur of Haveri district, took the VAO examination at a centre in Shiggaon on October 4. Prasanna said information available with KEA showed that the applicant himself attended the test; facial-recognition checks also verified his identity.
The OMR sheet issued to him was found to be in order. The same sheet was scanned on October 5 and uploaded to the KEA website, the authority said.
The Deputy Commissioner, who is also the district’s chief examination superintendent, has nevertheless been asked to examine the CCTV recordings, investigate possible lapses and submit a report. A police complaint should be filed if necessary, Prasanna said.
Different PUC passing years in applications
According to KEA, the candidate passed second-year PUC in 2013. The details he provided when applying for the VAO post matched the Pre-University Education Department’s online database.
However, KEA’s server records showed 2026 entered as his passing year in the KSRP application, Prasanna said, describing the year as altered.
Prasanna said reforms over the past two years, including scanning and publishing OMR sheets, were intended to ensure transparency and protect candidates who study hard. The investigation would establish whether any irregularities had occurred and enable legal action if warranted, he said.
The announced inquiry is not a finding that examination malpractice occurred.
About the Author
