The Punjab and Haryana High Court has intervened in the ongoing recruitment for 454 pharmacy officer positions within the state’s Health and Family Welfare Department. Justice Sandeep Moudgil issued a stay on the selection procedure until the next hearing scheduled for September 17, acting on a petition filed by Keshav Kamboj and others.
High Court Intervention and Petition Details
The petitioners approached the judicial body seeking the complete cancellation of the written examination conducted last month on the 19th. According to the petition, an organised fraud network compromised the integrity of the test. The court had previously noted in an interim order that any progression of the selection process would remain contingent upon the final outcome of the current legal proceedings.
Police Findings and Cheating Modus Operandi
Law enforcement authorities uncovered an inter-state cheating syndicate operating during the examination, leading to multiple arrests. Investigators seized several incriminating devices from the suspects, which included:
- Twenty-seven battery-operated wireless gadgets
- Pen cameras used to capture test materials
- Real-time dictation equipment
Initial inquiries revealed that the syndicate allegedly charged candidates amounts ranging from 3.5 lakh rupees to 13 lakh rupees to guarantee passing scores. The examination itself was administered by Baba Farid University of Health Sciences across twenty-five centers situated in Faridkot, Kotkapura, and Firozpur, drawing approximately seven thousand aspirants for the 454 advertised vacancies.
Political Reactions
In the wake of the police findings, opposition parties targeted the incumbent Aam Aadmi Party administration over the incident. Political opponents have demanded the resignations of Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains and Health Minister Balbir Singh in connection with the alleged administrative failure.
Primary source: This independent news summary is based on official information from Akashvani News. Read the original document for complete details.