Kolhapur students write papers barefoot following the divisional board's diktat

The Kolhapur division of the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education has banned shoes, chappals and socks inside the examination centres from this year.

Chairperson of the division Ujjwaladevi Patil said that the step has been taken to prevent students from using their footwear to hide copying material. "Last year, the division had banned footwear at a few examination centres. We were able to curb copying to a large extent and hence decided to implement the ban at all centres," she said.

As many as 1.36 lakh students are appearing for the board exams this year from Kolhapur division which covers Kolhapur, Sangli, Satara, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts. There are at least 141 examination centres in the division.

Meanwhile, the district administration has invoked section 144 of the CrPC in its jurisdiction. It has also asked photostat centres and shops with fax machines within 100-metre periphery of the examination centres to shut down business.

"Carrying laptops, cell phones and pagers near the examination centres have also been banned," resident deputy collector Ajit Relekar told DNA. In addition to the division's seven squads in each district, the Kolhapur police have formed six special squads.

One case of copying was reported in Kankavli town in Sindhudurg district on Thursday.

Mohsin Mulla/ DNA-Daily News & Analysis Source: 3D Syndication