High Court Asks CBI to Reply on Plea for Independent Probe Into Punjab Pharmacy Exam

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has sought a response from the CBI on a petition seeking an independent investigation into alleged cheating and a paper leak in the Pharmacy Officer recruitment examination held on July 19 for 454 posts under the Punjab Health Department.

The plea has turned the spotlight on the state police's handling of the case. While police arrested accused persons for allegedly facilitating cheating during the examination, officials involved in conducting the test were cleared of any involvement.

The petitioners have questioned how the role of examination officials could be ruled out without a detailed investigation. They have also pointed to discrepancies between the accused named in a police press note issued on July 19 and those mentioned in the FIR registered a day later.

Police have maintained that although an organised cheating network was detected, there was no evidence of an actual question-paper leak or of examination officials being involved.

The petitioners, however, have alleged that the racket involved an inter-state network that used electronic devices and operators positioned outside examination centres. They have sought a CBI investigation as well as the cancellation or re-conduct of the examination.

The court's decision to seek the CBI's response has brought the state investigation under closer scrutiny. The matter is significant for thousands of candidates whose recruitment prospects remain uncertain amid the allegations.

The key question before the court is whether the investigation adequately examined all possible links in the alleged cheating network, including the role of those responsible for conducting and supervising the examination.