Patna, June 1 (IANS) As eyebrows were raised over the academic aptitude of Class 12 "toppers" in Science and Arts streams in Bihar this year, authorities on Wednesday announced their results have been put on hold.

The toppers were also ordered to appear before a team of experts for interview and written examination to re-test their academic calibre. "The Bihar School Examination Control Board (BSECB) has stayed the results of Class 12 Science and Arts toppers and decided to conduct their interviews. A special team will re-check their answer sheets also," a senior officials said on Wednesday.

The BSECB asked the Class 12 toppers in Science, Arts and Commerce streams to appear for interviews and written examination on June 3 after it was reported that they lacked even basic knowledge about their subjects, BSECB Chairman Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh said.

"The Bihar School Exam Committee of the Education Department has decided for the first time to conduct interviews of Class 12 exam toppers. A committee of the education board will interview them, a board official said.

Singh said action will be taken against toppers if they failed in the interview and their results too will be cancelled.

Bihar Education Minister Ashok Choudhary has already assured of action against officials found guilty in this connection.

Rubi Kumari, who topped in Class 12 (intermediate) Arts stream examination conducted by BSECB this year, did not know about her own subjects. For her, political science is a subject that imparts knowledge on cooking.

Similarly, Saurabh Sresth did not have basic knowledge of science. He said aluminium is an active element in response to a question. But when asked about sodium and electrons, he failed to reply.

Rubi shocked many when she told a local TV channel that one of her subjects was 'Prodical Science' instead of political science.

Interestingly, Rubi, like most students in Bihar, wants to become an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer.

Saurabh wants to become a scientist. Both Rubi and Saurabh are from a college in Vaishali district in Bihar.

That is not all. Rubi is also not aware about her subjects in Class 12. She said the total marks were 600 as against actual 500 marks. She secured 444 out of 500 marks to top the Arts stream.

The BSECB ordered a probe in the matter involving examiners who evaluated their answer sheets.

"Strict measures against cheating, including CCTV and prohibitory orders against unlawful assembly during the exams in February, resulted in a fall in pass percentage," a board official said.

Till last year, mass cheating in board exams was reported in Bihar. This was not the case this year.