The Patna High Court today has directed the Bihar DGP to ensure the conduct of the ongoing Class 10 board examination is free and fair.

This follows a petition on statement by Bihar's Education Minister PK Shahi that cheating-free examinations were not possible in the state without the cooperation of parents.

More than 600 students taking the class 10 board exams in Bihar's Hajipur district have been expelled in the last two days after they were caught cheating in the examination.

The cheating did not just involve the students but even their parents who clambered over school building walls to pass chits and assist their wards and friends.

District officials said that over 100 parents were arrested on Thursday.

Bihar Education Minister P K Shahi on Thursday said that free and fair exam was not possible unless parents and guardians of over 1.4 million students in the state appearing for the examination cooperate with the state government.

"It is not possible to fully stop cheating during the exam,' Shahi said at a press conference.

"It is the responsibility of the society, not the state government alone, to ensure a cheating-free exam. More than the government parents and guardians of students should come forward for it," Shahi said.

MI Khan/Patna