Pharmacy Officer Recruitment Row: HC Seeks CBI Reply on Cheating Allegations

Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has asked the CBI to respond to a petition seeking an independent investigation into alleged cheating and a possible paper leak in the July 19 Pharmacy Officer recruitment examination for 454 posts in the Punjab Health Department.

According to a recent report by NDTV, the petition challenges the scope of the state police investigation after arrests were made over alleged cheating during the test, while officials responsible for conducting it were cleared of involvement.

The petitioners have questioned how investigators ruled out the officials’ involvement without a more detailed inquiry. They have also cited differences between the names of accused persons in a police press note issued on July 19 and those in the FIR registered the following day.

Police have said they uncovered an organised cheating operation but found no evidence that the question paper had been leaked or that examination officials were involved. The petitioners dispute the adequacy of that investigation, alleging that an inter-state network used electronic devices and people operating outside examination centres to assist candidates.

The petitioners have sought a CBI probe and asked for the examination to be cancelled or held again. The High Court has sought a response; it has not ordered a CBI investigation or decided whether the examination must be repeated.

As NDTV reported, the case now centres on whether the investigation sufficiently examined the alleged network and the possible role of those who conducted or supervised the examination. The outcome remains consequential for candidates awaiting clarity on the recruitment process.