A nine-member technical expert committee was constituted by the Tirap district administration in Arunachal Pradesh to conduct a probe following reports of distribution of defective laptops to toppers of CBSE exams in the district.

The probe revealed that the computers supplied were indeed defective.

According to PTI reports, a total of 18 meritorious students, who performed well in Class X and XII exams conducted by CBSE, were awarded with free laptops by the education department in the districtd on June 20 as part of the district academic toppers award 2021-22, being implemented by the Directorate of Secondary Education (DSE).

However, eight students have returned their laptops at the DC office alleging that the machines were old ones and could not be used due to technical malfunctions.

They also alleged that the laptops showed severe signs of wear and tear, scratches besides vulgar videos stored in it with names and signatures of previous users. 

Following the allegations, the Tirap Deputy Commissioner Hento Karga constituted an expert committee headed by a circle officer, to probe into the matter. 

“The state government has decided to replace the laptops with new ones. To avoid any kind of further embarrassment, the district administration has decided to thoroughly check the new machines before handing them to the students,” DC Karga said. 

Meanwhile, the education department has decided to blacklist the firm that supplied the laptops.

An official of the department said that the supplier had been selected after following the due tender process.

“There are terms and conditions for the supply of these laptops. From whatever information we have received from Tirap, it looks like terms and conditions have not been met. Accordingly, we are going to blacklist the firm. Also, an inquiry will be conducted into the allegation,” the official said as reported by The Sentinel Assam.

The All Tirap Students’ Union (ATSU) on Monday, in a memorandum to the DDSE, demanded a thorough investigation against all officers involved in manipulating the district academic toppers award 2021-22.

(PTI)