Question paper was leaked, says high court probe panel

HARYANA JUDICIAL OFFICERS’ EXAM The court committee recommends registration of FIR against two candidates and registrar (recruitment), high court, Balwinder Sharma

CHANDIGARH :In an internal probe conducted by the Punjab and Haryana high court, it has been found that the question paper of Haryana Civil Service (judicial) examination conducted on July 16 got leaked.

A high court committee that conducted the probe has recommended registration of first information report (FIR) against two candidates and registrar (recruitment), high court, Balwinder Sharma. The probe found that though Sharma denied knowing one of the candidates, Sunita, a total of 760 calls and SMSS were exchanged between them during the past one year.

“..At least 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..” the committee stated in its report recommending that it be scrapped.

The panel also recommended that Sharma be transferred forthwith from the post and a parallel probe be conducted by high court against Sharma.

Haryana Public Service Commission

THOUGH BALWINDER DENIED KNOWING SUNITA, ONE OF THE CANDIDATES, THE DUO EXCHANGED 760 CALLS AND SMSES DURING PAST ONE YEAR

had put out an advertisement for recruitment of 109 HCS officers (judicial) on March 20 this year. The matter had reached court in August on the petition of one Suman, a Pinjore resident, who had sought a CBI probe alleging that paper leak was a “package deal” offered by those involved, to some candidates. It was alleged that the prelims toppers in two different categories --Sunita and Sushila could not qualify any competitive examination in the past. But in this exam they had “exceptionally” high numbers. The report was taken up by a HC bench comprising justices Rajesh Bindal, Rajan Gupta and GS Sandhawalia, which posted the matter for September 15, asking the HC administration to apprise it of action on the report. The bench also requested the registrar (vigilance) to direct the cellular service providers of persons involved to preserve the call details, messages exchanged etc for a period of one year.