BALAKRISHNA, J. ( 1 ) IN this writ petition, the petitioner has sought for the following reliefs:a) For production of the answer scripts of the petitioner in Mathematics, written in March 1989 in Register No. 345828 in second year P. U. C. examination in centre No. 476 in Panchanahalli. B) For verification of the answer sheets as to whether they are all scored off. C) To have the answers valued by ignoring the scoring off made on the answers by crossed lines. D) For declaration of the results of the petitioner after fresh valuation. ( 2 ) I directed the learned Government Advocateappearing on behalf of respondents-1 and 2 to make available the answer scripts of the petitioner for perusal. The teamed government Advocate promptly responded by securing the answer scripts and I have perused the same. I am shocked to see lines recklessly drawn across the papers on every page as if the petitioner did not want the answers to be valued by the examiner. Except for very few pages of answers fetching small number of marks, in all other pages answers have been scored off. It appears to me that there is foulplay and the petitioner has been victimised. This is, indeed, a shocking state of affair. Apart from the question of granting appropriate relief to the petitioner, the question which arises for consideration is what action should be taken in order to locate the source of mischief and for necessary penal action against the person responsible. It is difficult to speculate at this stage and to blame any particular person in the cir cumstances of the case. However, this difficulty does not deter me from passing appropriate orders in the circumstances of the case. ( 3 ) THE fears expressed by the petitionerand the bold assertions made in the writ petition are well founded and bear full legal scrutiny. If such instances have happened in the case of several other students and if they have not come to light, the situation would be deplorable and real concern is for the merited students who take the examination with all seriousness and sincerity after days of hard work to secure maximum marks possible by meritorious performance in the ex aminations. If such instances have happened in the case of several other students and if they have not come to light, the situation would be deplorable and real concern is for the merited students who take the examination with all seriousness and sincerity after days of hard work to secure maximum marks possible by meritorious performance in the ex aminations. If such instances of this kind are not curbed and are not taken serious note of, i am afraid, that the standard of Pre-University education would sooner rather than later reach the rock-bottom. ( 4 ) THE facts and circumstances of the caseand the glaring features of scoring off of the answers indiscriminately and recklessly on almost every page justify the passing of the following order: i allow this writ petition and direct the second respondent to send the answer scripts of the petitioner for fresh valuation without taking into account the scoring off on any of the pages in the answer scripts and purely on the merits of the answers written by the petitioner and announce the result after fresh valuation. In the discretion of the board of Pre-University Education fresh valuation may be made either by the very same examiner or any other suitable examiner in order to ensure not only impartiality but also proper and just valuation of the answers written by the petitioner. It is also necessary that the second respondent should ensure that the fresh valuation is completed within a time limit of 45 days from the date of this order. A copy of this order shall be forthwith served on the learned Government Advocate. As regards the unhealthy and reprehensible conduct of an "invisible person" since injustice has been perpetrated on the petitioner, it is not only desirable but also absolutely necessary that the second respondent should institute an enquiry in order to investigate and to fix accountability on the culprit who is responsible for scoring off of answers of the petitioner in the answer scripts. In this regard appropriate action should be initiated and completed within a reasonable period commencing from within 15 days from the date of receipt of this order. It is open to the petitioner to move this Court if no action is taken in this regard. Rule made absolute. Writ Petition allowed. --- *** --- .