The Uttarakhand Subordinate Services Selection Commission (UKSSSC) has scrapped its recent graduate-level recruitment examination following allegations of a paper leak. The commission confirmed that a fresh exam will be held within the next three months, with the exact date to be announced soon.
“The graduate-level examination conducted on September 21 for recruitment to several state government departments has been cancelled,” said UKSSSC Chairman GS Martolia on Saturday.
The decision came after parts of the question paper, three pages in total, were allegedly leaked from a centre in Haridwar and circulated on social media shortly after the exam concluded. The incident triggered widespread outrage among candidates across the state. Over one lakh aspirants had appeared for the exam, which aimed to fill 416 vacancies for positions including Patwari, Lekhpal, and other posts.
Following the controversy, members of the Uttarakhand Unemployed Union launched a week-long protest demanding action. Responding to the growing unrest, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami assured students that the state government would recommend a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the incident.
According to UKSSSC Secretary Shiv Barnwal, the paper leak was traced to a candidate who allegedly smuggled an iPhone into the examination hall, took pictures of the question paper, and sent them to his sister. The sister reportedly forwarded the images to a college professor, who solved the questions and sent back the answers. Both the candidate and his sister have since been arrested, and an FIR has been filed at Raipur police station in Dehradun.
A judicial enquiry under the Commission of enquiry Act, 1952, headed by former Justice UC Dhyani was constituted to investigate the matter. The commission submitted its report on Saturday, emphasising the importance of maintaining transparency, integrity, and public trust in the state’s examination process.
In its official letter, UKSSSC stated that the written exam has been declared null and void to ensure that all competitive examinations remain “above suspicion.”
Meanwhile, the commission has postponed two upcoming recruitment exams scheduled for October. Chairperson G.S. Martolia said the body is planning a complete revamp of its examination system, including discussions with the Electronics Corporation of India Ltd (ECIL), Hyderabad, to deploy 5G signal jammers and enhance security.
Further, the commission intends to prioritise conducting future exams in government-run institutions to minimise external interference and prevent such incidents from recurring.
(With PTI inputs)
– Ends