Haryana JS Exam Paper Leak: Recruitment Committee Recommends Scrapping Of Exam, FIR Against Registrar & Others

The Recruitment/Promotion/ Court Creation Committee (Subordinate Judicial Services) of Punjab and Haryana High Court has recommended that HCS (JB) Preliminary Examination 2017 held on 16.7.2017 be scrapped.

 The recommendations were submitted before the full bench hearing the case.  The Bench of Justices Rajesh Bindal, Rajan Gupta and GS G. S. Sandhawalia resumed the hearing today after the Supreme Court had refused to entertain the petition to transfer the case to Delhi High Court.

 Recruitment/Promotion/ Court Creation Committee (Subordinate Judicial Services) of the High Court, prima facie, finding that some of the candidates had access to the question paper, recommended scrapping of HCS (JB) preliminary examination held on 16.7.2017.

 Further noticing that there were total 760 calls and SMSs exchanged between Dr. Balwinder Sharma, Registrar (Recruitment) and Ms. Sunita during last one year, disciplinary action against Dr. Balwinder Sharma, Registrar (Recruitment) has been recommended. He has been recommended to be transferred forthwith from the post pending further action. Further recommendation has been made for registration of FIR for further probe regarding leakage of question paper.

 The recommendations made by the Committee read as follows;

(a) In view of the prima facie finding that atleast two candidates namely Ms. Sunita and Sushila had the question papers and therefore the possibility that other candidates may have also had access to the question paper cannot be ruled out; in such circumstances, purity of the examination having been lost, the Committee recommends that the HCS (JB) Preliminary Examination 2017 held on 16.7.2017 be scrapped.

(b) Keeping in view the finding that Dr. Balwinder Sharma, Registrar (Recruitment) unequivocally stated that he had no prior acquaintance with Ms. Sunita (the topper in general category), while the call details given by the service provider reveal that there were a total of 760 calls and SMSs exchanged between Dr. Balwinder Sharma and Ms. Sunita during the last one year, indicate that the matter requires a deeper probe. Therefore, the Committee recommends that regular enquiry be initiated against Dr. Balwinder Sharma, Registrar (Recruitment) on the basis of preliminary enquiry.

 (c) Dr. Balwinder Sharma, Registrar (Recruitment) be transferred forthwith from this post pending further action.

 (d) An FIR be lodged against Ms. Sunita, Ms. Sushila and Dr. Balwinder Sharma, Registrar (Recruitment) to further probe the act of leakage of question paper of HCS (JB) Preliminary Examination 2017.