PU colleges in Karnataka face threat of affiliation withdrawal over exam paper leaks
Bengaluru: The Department of Pre-University Education has cautioned colleges against any lapses during the preparatory examinations for second-year PU students, warning that affiliation could be withdrawn if question papers are leaked or mishandled.
The warning has been issued in the wake of the controversy surrounding the leak of SSLC preparatory examination question papers, which were circulated on social media platforms and YouTube channels. Although no such incident was reported during the first round of preparatory examinations for second-year PU students, officials said the department was taking no chances as the next set of exams is scheduled from January 19 to February 2.
The SSLC paper leak case led to the arrest of eight people, including teachers and students, after a complaint was filed by the Karnataka School Education and Assessment Board. The incident has raised concerns within the PU Department about the possibility of similar breaches during upcoming examinations.
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According to a Deccan Herald report, a circular was sent to all PU colleges, which reiterated existing rules banning the use of mobile phones on campus during examinations. Principals have been directed to ensure that students do not carry mobile phones into examination halls and that strict monitoring is enforced.
Officials also warned students against uploading question papers on social media, stating that action would be taken even in cases where fake papers are circulated. The department said responsibility would be fixed on institutions if any irregularity is found during the conduct of the preparatory examinations.
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SC rejects plea alleging glitches in UMEED waqf portal, grants liberty to approach authorities
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain a petition filed by a waqf mutawalli alleging technical and structural deficiencies in the Centre’s UMEED portal meant for uploading details of waqf properties.
Observing that the issues raised were largely administrative in nature, a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi dismissed the plea.
The bench, however, granted the liberty to petitioner Hashmat Ali, a mutawalli (caretaker) of a waqf, to approach the appropriate authorities for redressal of grievances.
“We see no ground to entertain this writ petition. The petitioner may be well advised to approach the prescribed authority for clarification or addressing of grievances for which liberty is granted,” the CJI said in the order.
At the outset, the CJI questioned the maintainability of the plea on the ground as to why it was filed in the top court directly. “Why did you not approach the high court?” the CJI asked.
Senior advocate Maneka Guruswamy, appearing for Ali, said the high court was unlikely to entertain the matter since challenges to the 2025 amendments to the Waqf law were already pending before the top court.
However, the CJI noted that the present petition did not raise any substantive constitutional challenge to the amendments, but was instead focused on “administrative difficulties” in using the portal. Such grievances, the court said, could be addressed by the high court or the authorities concerned.
The senior lawyer said apart from technical glitches, the petition also raised concerns regarding the classification of waqfs under the Waqf Rules, 2025.
She said that the category of 'Waqf by survey' had been subsumed under 'Waqf by user,' and that the UMEED Portal did not provide any separate option for 'Waqf by survey' in its drop-down menu.
Justice Bagchi noted that the ministry had clarified that 'Waqf by survey' stood subsumed within the 'Waqf by user' category.
Ali, a mutawalli from Madhya Pradesh, challenged the enforceability of the digital uploading mandate under Section 3B of the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, 1995.
The petitioner alleged that the UMEED portal, notified under the UMEED Rules, 2025, was structurally defective and technologically unfit for registering waqf properties.
On December 1 last year, the top court had refused to extend time for the mandatory registration of all waqf properties, including 'waqf by user', under the UMEED portal.
The Centre launched the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development (UMEED) Act central portal on June 6 to create a digital inventory after geo-tagging all waqf properties.
According to the mandate of the UMEED portal, details of all registered waqf properties across India are to be mandatorily uploaded within six months.
