Bhubaneswar : The recent leak of the Odisha Teacher Eligibility Test (OTET) question paper has triggered serious concerns over transparency and accountability within the state’s School and Mass Education Department. Despite being conducted by a reputed institution like the Board of Secondary Education (BSE), the exam’s integrity came under fire after the question paper was allegedly leaked from the laptop of the Board’s Vice President.
Following this shocking revelation, the Crime Branch arrested six individuals involved in the case. However, the incident has stirred a broader debate on internal lapses and administrative negligence. Former bureaucrat Bijay Patnaik has raised pointed questions regarding the Vice President’s role, asking how handwritten question papers ended up on his personal laptop and who granted password access to the alleged perpetrators.
Patnaik also highlighted that there had been multiple complaints from the Retired Officers’ Association in the past demanding the removal of the Vice President, Nihar Mohanty. Despite repeated alerts, the government continued to retain him in the post for several years — a move now being heavily scrutinized.
In a further twist, the Rajasthan-based private firm Charu Mindworks, tasked with managing the examination process, has come under the scanner. Allegations suggest the firm has personal links to Mohanty, specifically through his daughter and son-in-law.
Calling for an impartial and thorough investigation, Bijay Patnaik urged the government to suspend the Vice President immediately and initiate both a Crime Branch and departmental inquiry. He emphasized that only an unbiased probe can restore public trust in the examination system.
