CBSE transfers a cover-up: Congress demands Dharmendra Pradhan's removal amid OSM row

The political battle over the CBSE's On-Screen Marking controversy escalated on Tuesday, with the Congress alleging that the transfer of two senior CBSE officials was an attempt to shield the government from accountability rather than address concerns raised by students.

The remarks came shortly after CBSE Chairman Rahul Singh and Secretary Himanshu Gupta were transferred amid allegations surrounding the digital evaluation system used for Class 12 board examinations.

TRANSFERS TRIGGER FRESH POLITICAL FIRE

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi described the move as a "cover-up" and questioned why Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had not been held responsible.

In a post on X, Gandhi argued that removing officials while leaving the minister untouched did not amount to accountability. He demanded that Pradhan be dismissed and called for an independent judicial enquiry into the matter.

The Congress leader also met Sarthak Sidhant, an 18-year-old student from Jharkhand who has raised concerns regarding the tendering process for the OSM system. Sidhant, along with his family, met Gandhi before making a presentation before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education.

After the meeting, Gandhi posted a message of support for the student, urging him to remain firm in his principles.

CONGRESS STEPS UP PRESSURE

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge termed the transfer of the CBSE chairman and secretary a "mere eyewash" and said nothing short of the education minister's removal would deliver justice to the nearly 18.5 lakh students who appeared for the Class 12 examinations.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh also questioned the timing of the transfers, arguing that the action appeared designed to place responsibility on officials rather than political leadership.

He claimed the developments suggested that irregularities in the procurement process needed deeper scrutiny.

With an enquiry now underway and political pressure mounting, the OSM controversy has moved beyond an education issue and become a major political flashpoint, with opposition parties continuing to demand answers from the government.

THE OSM CONTROVERSY

The controversy began after several Class 12 students alleged that scanned copies of answer sheets uploaded through the OSM process did not match their handwriting, raising concerns about possible answer-sheet mismatches and evaluation irregularities.

The issue soon gained national attention, with students taking their concerns to social media and later before lawmakers.

In response, the Cabinet Secretariat announced the formation of a one-member enquiry committee headed by S Radha Chauhan, Chairperson of the Capacity Building Commission. The committee has been tasked with examining matters related to the procurement of services for the OSM system.

(With PTI inputs)