HC issues notice on plea seeking cancellation of Punjab pharmacist exam over ‘cheating racket’
The petitioners also prayed for quashing all consequential steps taken or proposed to be taken on its basis, including evaluation of answer sheets and preparation or declaration of the result
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued notice of motion on a petition seeking cancellation of the written examination conducted for recruitment to 454 posts of Pharmacist (Pharmacy Officer) in Punjab over allegations that it was vitiated by an organised inter-state cheating racket.
Issuing notice of motion to the state, Justice Sandeep Moudgil directed that the further selection process would be subject to the outcome of the writ petition. In his petition, Keshav Kamboj and other petitioners through counsel Sarthak Gupta were seeking the quashing of the written examination held on July 19, for recruitment Pharmacist, Group-C, under Punjab Department of Health and Family Welfare, pursuant to advertisement dated June 11. The petitioners also prayed for quashing all consequential steps taken or proposed to be taken on its basis, including evaluation of answer sheets and preparation or declaration of the result.
It was added that the examination had been vitiated in its entirety by the organised, hi-tech, inter-state cheating racket, as recorded in the press release dated July 19 and FIR dated July 20, “in complete negation of Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution of India”.
Issuing notice of motion, Justice Moudgil observed: “Since the state-respondents were served with an advance copy of the petition, TPS Walia, AAG, Punjab, puts an appearance on behalf of respondent-state and prays for time to file written statement.”
Fixing August 10 as the next date of hearing, Justice Moudgil ordered: “Reply, if any, be filed before the next date of hearing, with advance copy be supplied to the counsel for the petitioner…. Further selection process would be subject to outcome of the present writ petition.”
