Punjab Pharmacy Officer Exam Challenged in High Court After 35 Arrested in Alleged High-Tech Cheating Racket

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has sought the Punjab government's response to a petition seeking cancellation of the Punjab Pharmacy Officer Exam after an alleged interstate high-tech cheating racket surfaced during the July 19 recruitment test.

According to The Indian Express, the court's July 28 interim order directed that recruitment for 454 Pharmacy Officer posts under the Punjab Department of Health and Family Welfare will remain subject to the final outcome of the case. The petition also seeks to halt further recruitment steps, including answer sheet evaluation and declaration of results.

According to The Indian Express, Keshav Kamboj and other candidates, through advocate Sarthak Gupta, challenged the recruitment examination, alleging it was compromised by an organized interstate cheating network that relied on electronic devices. The plea cites a Punjab Police press release issued on July 19 and an FIR registered on July 20, arguing that the alleged irregularities violated Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution, which guarantee equality before the law and equal opportunity in public employment.

In its July 28 interim order, the Punjab and Haryana High Court sought the Punjab government's response and directed that the recruitment process for 454 Pharmacy Officer posts will remain subject to the final outcome of the petition, while the plea also seeks to halt answer-sheet evaluation and declaration of results.

According to The New Indian Express, Punjab Police arrested 35 people, including seven alleged conspirators and 28 candidates, after uncovering an interstate cheating racket during the Punjab Pharmacy Officer Exam conducted by Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS).

Investigators alleged that candidates used miniature Bluetooth devices concealed inside turbans, socks, and undergarments, while a pen camera was used to capture the question paper and transmit it via WhatsApp to operatives outside the test center. Answers were then relayed to candidates in real time through wireless devices. Police seized 27 battery-operated wireless devices during the operation.

Citing a Punjab Police statement, The New Indian Express reported, "The breach occurred entirely in real time after the examination commenced." Investigators also found no evidence of a question paper leak or involvement of any government official. Police alleged that candidates paid between ₹3.5 lakh and ₹13 lakh for the illicit service.

According to The New Indian Express, Dr. Neetu Kakkar, Medical Superintendent of Guru Gobind Singh Medical College, said the Punjab Health and Family Welfare Department has asked Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS) to submit a detailed report before the state government decides the future of the Pharmacy Officer recruitment process.

She also dismissed allegations of a question paper leak, saying the malpractice was limited to certain candidates who allegedly used prohibited electronic devices. "The department has asked BFUHS to submit a detailed report, following which the higher authorities will take an appropriate decision," Dr. Kakkar said.

Also see: Rajasthan Paramedical Exam Cancelled After Alleged Cheating Racket Busted; Four Arrested

Recruitment for pharmacy officers is intended to ensure that qualified professionals are appointed to government health facilities, where they oversee medicine dispensing, inventory management, and medication safety.

With the Punjab and Haryana High Court examining the petition, the future of the recruitment process for 454 Pharmacy Officer posts will depend on the court's final decision. Its final ruling will determine whether the current recruitment process moves forward and could influence how future government recruitment examinations are monitored in Punjab.

(Rh/TP/MSM)