HPSC cancels Hindi exam for asst prof posts amid claims of paper leak, tampering
Chandigarh: The Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC) on Tuesday cancelled the written examination for Hindi for recruitment of assistant professors in the subject in the state's colleges.
The cancellation came amid allegations of question papers being tampered with, security lapses, and the question paper being leaked on the day of examination.
The exam was held on Sunday, and thousands of candidates from Haryana and other states appeared for it at various examination centres in Panchkula city. In a notification on its website, HPSC asked candidates to await an announcement regarding a fresh date for the exam.
HPSC had advertised 2,424 posts of assistant professors for 26 subjects in Haryana colleges. After receiving applications, HPSC conducted the selection exams in May. On Sunday, the examination for physics, chemistry, Hindi, and other subjects, was held.
Sources in HPSC said there were technical lapses in the printing of question papers, along with some issues related to substandard seals on question papers given to candidates.
However, they dismissed any tampering or incidence of paper leak. "Soon after the exams, we received hundreds of emails about technical mistakes. We put these before subject experts, who endorsed the same. As errors (largely printing ones) were beyond correction, we decided to cancel the exam.
There was no tampering, lapse, or secrecy breach," the official claimed.
Blaming the Saini-led BJP govt and the HPSC for the leak, the opposition leaders termed it as a glaring example of "parchi-kharchi" (wrongdoings).
"It was not just Hindi, but the same shortcomings were observed in other exams. Candidates who appeared in the exam for Hindi and other subjects are now prepared to move the Punjab and Haryana high court. There are also allegations that six out of a set of 24 question papers were found to be unsealed or opened," said Shweta Dhull, an activist who monitors the recruitment processes.
INLD state president Ram Pal Majra said the cancellation had exposed the BJP govt's functioning.
Former Haryana CM Bhupinder Hooda and Rajya Sabha MP Randeep Surjewala termed the alleged leak as a betrayal of lakhs of educated youth in Haryana. "There is hardly any recruitment that is not being challenged in court or has not faced allegations of wrongdoing," Surjewala pointed out.
HPSC is also planning to cancel the written exam for English held last year, which was challenged by several candidates after more than 33 mistakes were found in the paper.
Not the first time
There have been numerous instances of question papers being leaked in various examinations conducted by the HPSC in the past five years.
HPSC cancelled the written exam for selection of 81 dental surgeons (Class-2) in the health department, which was originally scheduled for Sep 26, 2021 due to "irregularities and allegations of corruption in the examination process". The state vigilance bureau had arrested four persons, including deputy secretary of HPSC Anil Nagar, on charges of corruption.
HPSC has also decided to cancel the written examination for recruitment of assistant professors of English held in 2024 after the candidates complained of glaring technical mistakes.
Apart from the paper leaks, writ petitions have been filed against the govt and the HSSC by candidates. In the most recent case, the court has struck down the marks for socio-economic criteria, making many candidates fear loss of their jobs.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
9 minutes ago
- Time of India
'Don't like women who wear revealing clothes': BJP's Kailash Vijayvargiya gives another filthy statement, watch video
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Madhya Pradesh Cabinet Minister and senior BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya has drawn criticism once again for his comments on women's attire. Speaking at a public event in Indore, the Urban Development Minister expressed disapproval of what he described as "skimpy clothes" worn by young women."In Western culture, women wearing fewer clothes are considered beautiful. I don't agree with that," he said. "In India, we appreciate women who dress modestly, wear jewellery, and present themselves gracefully."Mr. Vijayvargiya made these remarks while drawing an analogy between short speeches and short dresses. "There's a belief in the West that women in fewer clothes and leaders who speak less are appreciated. But I don't believe that. To me, women are forms of goddesses and should dress accordingly," he also mentioned that he often asks young women who approach him for selfies to dress "properly" next time."Sometimes girls come for selfies, and I tell them, 'Beta, come in proper clothes next time, then we'll take a photo,'" he isn't the first instance of Vijayvargiya's remarks stirring backlash. At a Hanuman Jayanti event in 2022, he made similar statements, criticizing young women's clothing. "Girls today wear such inappropriate clothes... We call women goddesses, but they don't look like that. Some resemble Shurpanakha. God gave you a beautiful body, at least dress decently. Teach your children values," he had said then.
The Hindu
16 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Bengaluru stampede: Dy. CM breaks down over deaths, HDK demands his ouster from Cabinet
A day after the death of 11 persons in the stampede during RCB's victory celebrations in Bengaluru, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Thursday broke down before the media, while speaking over the episode. The Opposition mocked him for shedding tears after allowing the tragedy to strike. Union Minister and JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy demanded his ouster from the State Cabinet, accusing him of being responsible for the episode. 'The Opposition is politicking. But I am grief-stricken over the death of children,' the Deputy Chief Minister said, weeping, while interacting with media persons in Bengaluru. 'Those children had a bright future ahead of them. This incident has tarnished the reputation of Bengaluru and Karnataka. We have taken this incident seriously, and we will rectify the shortcomings. This is a lesson for us.' He said the City Police Commissioner had told them that the programme in the stadium should be confined to just 10 minutes. 'I had no plans to go to the stadium earlier. However, upon being told by the police commissioner, I rushed to the venue. Even the KSCA president and secretary could not go to the stadium, and I had to take them in my car. We spoke to the RCB management to keep the programme short.' He said this was a time for mourning and not for scoring some political brownie points. Counter attack Launching a counterattack on the Opposition, Mr. Shivakumar declared that he would talk about similar tragedies that have taken place during their regime in the forthcoming legislative session. 'I can list out all the tragedies that took place during the BJP and JD(S) regime. But I don't want to stoop to their level. I will talk about such incidents during the BJP and JD(S) regimes in the legislative session. I am not going to talk about what happened during the death of Kannada actor Rajkumar (during JD (S)-BJP regime).' Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy blamed Mr. Shivakumar for the tragedy and said the Chief Minister should sack him if he had any courage. 'The DCM's hunger for publicity even amidst the tragic deaths and his rude behaviour at the programme was the height of insensitivity.' He further described the entire programme in front of Vidhana Soudha as a 'show of daadaagiri (bullying) by Mr. Shivakumar.' Even after coming to know about deaths, he participated in the victory programme, claimed Mr. Kumaraswamy.
The Hindu
19 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Councillor of Puttur CMC found dead
Ramesh Rai, 54, a councillor of Puttur City Municipal Council, was found dead at a water tank on the banks of the Nethravati at Panemangaluru, near B.C. Road, on Thursday. He was the BJP councillor from Ward No. 11 at the CMC. The police said earlier his mobile phone, motorbike, and some other materials were found on the banks of the river near the old bridge at Panemangaluru. When fire services personnel and local people searched, his body was found in the water tank. The Bantwal Town Police have registered a case in this connection under Section 194 of BNSS, 2023. (Those in distress or those having suicidal tendencies can call Arogya Sahayavani Ph.: 104 for help.)
