Punjab And Haryana HC Issues Notice To State In Civil Services (Judicial Branch) Exam Paper Leak Case [Read Order]

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday issued notice to Haryana’s Additional Chief Secretary (Home) and the Director General of Police (DGP) on a Petition alleging leakage of the question paper of the Haryana Civil Services (Judicial Branch) Preliminary Examination conducted on July 16 this year.

Taking serious note of the matter, Justice Kuldeep Singh observed, “There can be two aspects of the matter, firstly, that the petitioner was being cheated by claiming the leakage of the examination paper, which was being conducted by the recruitment agency of this Court. The other is that the paper was actually leaked. In either case, the matter is of serious nature.”

Since the examination was conducted by the Registrar (Recruitment) of the High Court, he has been impleaded as a party to the Petition as well. The Registrar has also been directed to show as to who had handled the examination papers right from the time it was set till it was distributed in the examination hall.

Besides, on being informed that an in-house inquiry into the allegations was going on, Justice Singh also directed the Registrar (Recruitment) to apprise the Court of the person conducting the inquiry and the status of such inquiry.

Further, noting that the Petition had demanded an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation, the Court directed her to file an application stating the grounds on which such probe is sought.

The Court is hearing a Petition 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.

The Court has, therefore, directed Sushila to be made a party (respondent) the petition, and has posted the matter for urgent hearing on August 28.