SMSs on exam eve stump Haryana Teachers' Eligibility Test aspirants

AMBALA/YAMUNANAGAR: Candidates appearing for Haryana Teachers' Eligibility Test (HTET), to be conducted at various centres in the state on Tuesday and Wednesday, have been receiving text messages (SMSs) from unknown numbers telling them to bring coloured printouts of their roll numbers to take the exam. Haryana Board of School Education (HBSE), which is conducting the test, though, has rubbished all such talk about SMSs as rumours. 

Some HTET aspirants said that they were told to download their roll numbers and take a black and white printout from HBSE website. They also alleged that nobody, apart from the board officials, had the contact details of candidates so they could have probably leaked the database to those who sent the SMSs. 

However, many candidates have received SMSs from unknown numbers, which stated that HBSE has issued fresh instructions for them to bring coloured printouts of roll numbers to test centres, failing which they would not be allowed to take the exam. 

It is learnt that photocopy vendors are charging students between Rs 150 and 250 for the printout of their roll numbers. Some applicants said that shopkeepers in Kurukshetra had suggested to them that they get the printouts laminated. 

Geeta Rani, from Roop Nagar Colony in Jagadhri, said, "I received an SMS that black and white printouts of roll numbers would not be entertained. I was shocked. Why did the board authorities not send the message through mail or e-mail. When I contact the HBSE officials, they denied having issued such instructions." 

Another candidate from Jagadhri, Neetu, added, "On getting the message, I tried to contact the HBSE office, but their phone numbers were busy." 

Rajesh from Ambala city said, "Earlier I was bothered by some coaching centres who kept asking me to join their classes to prepare for HTET and this SMS has disturbed me further. Looks like racketeers are hand-in-glove with some board officials. Otherwise such a thing is not possible." 

We'll verify: HBSE secy 

When contacted, HBSE secretary Anshal Singh told TOI that the board did not issue any such instructions to candidates, for taking coloured printouts of their roll numbers. "I am just shocked to hear this. I will check about this with my subordinates to find out who could be behind this mischievous rumour," she said.