Selection panel fabricated mark list of interviews: Court

Following complaints, a fresh typing test of 62 candidates was conducted

› Accused Jagjit Singh, Pavittarpal Kaur and Jora Singh either signed marks list on Dec 21 (2001) when the same was fabricated or they signed on the blank interview mark list and in both cases they are held guilty of preparing fabricated document.

THE COURT OBSERVED

MOHALI: Convicted for irregularities in recruitment of 134 clerks in 2001, Jagjit Singh Sidhu, 70, the then secretary of the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB), Pavittarpal Kaur, 57, the then deputy director of the board, and Jora Singh, 77, a retired colonel who was a member of the selection committee, have been held guilty of fabricating the marks list of interviews.

All three convicts, along with Tirath Singh (now deceased), were the members of subordinate selection committee constituted by PSEB for taking interviews of the candidates who had cleared the written and the typing tests.

The court, in its order, said, “Accused Jagjit Singh, Pavittarpal Kaur and Jora Singh either signed marks list on December 21 (2001) when the same was fabricated or they signed on the blank interview mark list to help the officials of the board to prepare merit list as per their choice and in both cases they are held guilty of preparing fabricated document.”

The court held, “Interview marks sheet was also prepared on December 21, 2001 to favour certain candidates and to cause loss to some others.”

“As many as 20 cuttings and interpolations (were there) on the interview marks sheet,” observed the court in the detailed order accessed by Hindustan Times.

Interviews were conducted between May 11 to May 19, 2001, and thereafter on August 14. The court observed, “Interview mark sheets must be prepared on the day when the interviews were conducted, thus possibility of fabrication of the same cannot be ruled out.”

TYPING TEST ANSWER SHEETS DESTROYED

Amar Singh, secretary to the board vice-chairman who was convener of the committee to conduct the typing test, “forged typing test papers of certain roll numbers,” ruled the court pronouncing him guilty.

Following complaints of discrepancies in answer sheets, a fresh typing test of 62 candidates was conducted.

Accused Amar Singh “destroyed previous answer sheets of said candidates to conceal the fact, thereby he fabricated answer sheets of the type test to benefit some candidates.

The answer sheets were destroyed by Amar Singh whereas other record is kept in the board for years together,” observed the court.

Out of 62 candidates 50 were declared pass and ultimately 13 candidates out of them were selected as clerks.

As per the allegations, 20 candidates who ultimately got selected were related to different officials of the board.

DISCREPANCY IN DISPATCH RECORD

As per the dispatch register of the board, appointment letters of all 134 candidates were issued on December 21, 2001, but the same were not sent through post. It has been simply mentioned in the dispatch register that an amount of Rs 3,677 was spent towards postal charges.

It is not clear as to how the appointment letters were received by the candidates through post by December 24, 2001, when 91 candidates joined their posts, particularly in view of the fact that December 22 and December 23 were holidays, the court observed.

“It is not possible for candidates to get done police verification and medical on the same day. All this goes a long way to show that appointments were perhaps made without preparing any merit list and candidates were informed personally.

The haste with which the entire process was completed also creates a serious doubt in selection process”, observed the court.