Question Paper Leak: Chandigarh Police Registers FIR Against HC Registrar [Read FIR]

The Chandigarh Police, on Tuesday, registered an FIR against Dr. Balwinder Kumar Sharma, Registrar of Punjab and Haryana High Court, in connection with the question paper leak in the Haryana Civil Service (Judicial) Examination.

The FIR has been registered under Sections 8 (taking gratification by corrupt or illegal means to influence public servant), 9 (taking gratification, for exercise of personal influence with public servant) and 13 (criminal misconduct by a public servant) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and Sections 409 (criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating) and120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code.

The High Court had scrapped the Haryana Judicial Service [HCS (JB)] Preliminary Examination-2017, on recommendation of the Recruitment/Promotion/ Court Creation Committee (Subordinate Judicial Services) of the High Court, which had found that some of the candidates did have access to the question paper.

The Bench comprising Justice Rajesh Bindal, Justice Rajan Gupta and Justice G.S. Sandhawalia was informed that in total 760 calls and SMSs were exchanged between Dr. Sharma and one of the conspirers, Ms. Sunita, in the last one year. The Committee had then recommended registration of an FIR and disciplinary action against the Registrar, as well as his transfer from the post, pending further action.

The Petition before the Court has been filed by a candidate, Ms. Suman, who has alleged that a day prior to the examination, she was approached by one Sunita and one Sushila, who offered to provide her with the question paper for a payment of Rs. 1 crore. The duo also disclosed to her at least two questions, which actually appeared in the paper a day later.