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Time of India
28-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Haryana: Vikas Barala dropped from law officer post after not joining
Vikas Barala CHANDIGARH: In a significant turnaround by the Nayab Singh Saini-led BJP govt, the office of the Advocate General has dropped the name of Vikas Barala as a law officer as he did not report for joining, an official spokesperson of the state govt confirmed on Monday. The official categorically confirmed that except for Vikas Barala, the rest of the law officers appointed had joined and assumed charge. Consequent to the joining report compiled by the concerned authorities, Vikas Barala's name was dropped, the official remarked. Notably, the development came within a week after the Haryana govt notified the list of appointments of law officers in the office of the Advocate General Haryana to defend the state in the Punjab and Haryana High Court as well as the Supreme Court of India. On July 18, the Haryana govt notified the appointment of 92 law officers, including Vikas Barala, to the office of the Advocate General Haryana. Barala, who happens to be the son of Rajya Sabha MP Subash Barala, is facing trial as an accused in the stalking and attempted abduction of the daughter of a senior Haryana bureaucrat (now retired). His name figured as Assistant Advocate General (AAG) for defending cases of Haryana in New Delhi, including the Supreme Court of India. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Learn More - How Watching Videos Can Boost Your Income TheDaddest Undo This triggered controversy and put a question mark on the criteria adopted and the rules followed for the selection of names by the screening committee, which was constituted by the AG office. Opposition parties and leaders criticised the Saini-led govt on this appointment. As to why Vikas chose not to join remains a mystery. However, sources indicate that it was a decision of the party high command as well as the govt after he did not report for joining. The screening committee, which comprised two retired judges of the high court, ignored the serious charges against him. The members of the Advocate General Haryana-headed screening committee that recommended Vikas's appointment were Mani Ram Sharma (IAS), special secretary, home department as the nominee of the additional chief secretary (home), Ritu Garg, legal remembrancer, and two retired judges, Justice Darshan Singh and Justice H S Bhalla, who were members (eminent legal professionals). Normally, those having affiliation with the ruling party are appointed as law officers, and their tenure is co-terminus with the party in power. On August 5, 2017, Vikas Barala and his friend Ashish allegedly followed the bureaucrat's daughter and tried to stop the car of a senior Haryana bureaucrat. The girl called the Chandigarh police, who apprehended the boys. At the time of the incident, they were under the influence of liquor. Both were booked under section 354 D (stalking) of the IPC and under the provisions of the Motor Vehicle Act. Later, police added two more sections for attempted kidnapping, and they were arrested. Vikas's father, Subhash Barala, was then serving as the state president of Haryana BJP. The trial of the case is currently pending before the district court in Chandigarh and is slated for hearing on August 2. The trial is at the stage of recording prosecution evidence.
Time of India
03-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
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.
