State cancels SDOs’ recruitment test

Job scam fallout: VB finds faults with printing press

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Amaninder Pal

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 28

The state government today cancelled a test conducted by Thapar University to recruit over 100 sub-divisional officers (SDO) in the Irrigation Department and Punjab Water Resources Management and Development Corporation.

The decision was taken after crucial inputs were provided by the Vigilance Bureau, which is investigating the recruitment scam in various departments and corporation.

This is the third major recruitment exam cancelled by the state since May this year, when the scam was first reported and subsequently snowballed into a political controversy.

Earlier, the government had cancelled the recruitment of engineers in the Department of Local Bodies and Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA).

The government has asked Patiala-based Thapar University to re-conduct the test without charging fee from the aspirants.

Clarifying that the VB hadn’t found any fault with the examination procedure adopted by the university, officials confirmed that the investigating agency had found faults with a private printing press responsible for printing the question paper for the test.

Kahan Singh Pannu, Secretary, Irrigation, said: “Since the Vigilance hasn’t raised any doubts on the examination conducting body, we have decided that Thapar University should re-conduct the exam. There was some problem at the end of the printing press. The test will be held next week. Aspirants need not to apply afresh.”

The test was initially to be conducted by Panjab University, Chandigarh. After aspirants paid examination fee to the university, the department handed over the job to Thapar University. Now, even the test conducted by Thapar early this month has been declared null and void.