Court Denies Bail in Odisha Teacher Eligibility Test Paper Leak Case
Court's Ruling on OTET Paper Leak
Bhubaneswar: A local court in Cuttack has denied bail to individuals implicated in the Special Odisha Teacher Eligibility Test (OTET) 2025 paper leak. The court emphasized that such criminal activities significantly erode public trust in examinations and recruitment processes managed by the government.
The judge noted that the actions of the accused have jeopardized the futures of deserving candidates and disheartened countless genuine applicants. He remarked, “Manipulation in teacher eligibility assessments undermines the education system and poses long-term detrimental effects on educational quality and national development.”
The court highlighted the pressing issue of youth unemployment, stating that many young individuals are forced to resort to agriculture and small businesses for survival. It warned that if these youths fall prey to unscrupulous individuals, their faith in the system would diminish, leading to mental distress.
The court reiterated that such offenses severely compromise public confidence in government examinations and recruitment, resulting in widespread disillusionment and a loss of institutional credibility.
A handwritten question paper, which was reportedly an exact copy of the official Special OTET 2025 sets prepared by the Board of Secondary Education (BSE), was discovered on Facebook and rapidly circulated on social media on July 19.
This incident prompted the postponement of the test originally scheduled for July 20. The BSE had initially rescheduled the test for August 31, but it was later postponed again due to what officials described as 'unavoidable circumstances.'
While the BSE has yet to announce a new date for the test, they have assured that it will be communicated soon.
The Odisha Police's Crime Branch is currently investigating the paper leak, and so far, eight individuals, including the vice president of the BSE and several school teachers, have been arrested in connection with the case.