Scrap HCS (Judicial) exam, says HC panel

Saurabh Malik

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 12

A Punjab and Haryana High Court committee, looking into the paper-leakage case, has recommended the scrapping of the “HCS (Judicial Branch) Preliminary Examination-2017”. The move came after it prima facie found that some candidates had access to the question paper.

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No less than 760 calls and messages exchanged between Registrar (Recruitment) Balwinder Sharma and a candidate during the past year also prompted the committee to recommend registration of an FIR against him and the candidates. Sharma’s forthwith transfer from the post, pending further action, has also been recommended.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Balwinder Sharma had remained an officer on special duty in 2014. 

The inquiry report, by the Recruitment and Promotion/Court Creation Committee (Subordinate Judicial Services) of the High Court, was submitted before a Full Bench today.

The committee said prima facie findings suggested that at least two candidates, Sunita and Sushila, had the question paper. Therefore, the possibility of other candidates having access to the paper could not be ruled out.

“The purity of the examination having been lost, the committee recommends that the HCS (JB) Preliminary Examination-2017, held on July 16, be scrapped.”

The committee added that Sharma unequivocally denied prior acquaintance with Sunita, the general category topper. The call details furnished by the service provider, on the other hand, revealed that 760 calls and SMSes were exchanged between Sharma and Sunita during the last one year, indicating that the matter required a “deeper probe”.

The panel recommended  a regular inquiry against Sharma, and an FIR against Sunita, Sushila and Sharma to further probe “the act of leakage”.

The Full Bench of Justices Rajesh Bindal, Rajan Gupta and GS Sandhawalia directed the HC to apprise it of the action taken and asked the Registrar (Vigilance) to direct service providers to preserve call details. 

 Paper-leakage case

• A committee of HC, through Haryana Public Service Commission, had invited applications for 109 posts in the subordinate judiciary
• Paper-leakage case has its genesis in a petition seeking registration of a criminal case to unearth the scam
• Petitioner alleged that at least two questions were disclosed to her a day prior to exam. She claimed Rs 1 crore was demanded, but she declined