Chandigarh: The ongoing Winter Session of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha witnessed a heated exchange on Monday as the opposition cornered the state government over the sensitive issue of alleged paper leaks in government recruitment exams. The matter, raised by the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) during Question Hour, prompted a detailed response from Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, who maintained that no paper leak has been definitively proven in the cases under discussion.
Question Hour Heat: INLD Demands Answers
The issue was brought to the floor by Aditya Devilal, the INLD MLA from Dabwali. Highlighting the concerns of thousands of aspirants, Devilal sought specific data from the government regarding the integrity of exams conducted by the Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC) and the Haryana Staff Selection Commission (HSSC) between 2014 and 2024-25.
Key Demands by the Opposition
MLA Aditya Devilal posed four critical questions to the ruling government:
- Leak Statistics: A year-wise and paper-wise breakdown of exams where papers were allegedly leaked.
- Cancelled Recruitments: Details of recruitment processes that were scrapped due to confirmed leaks or court-found irregularities.
- Action Against Officials: Specific names and posts of government officers or officials against whom action was taken for involvement in leak cases.
- Legal Status: The current status of legal cases related to these leaks, including those stayed or cancelled.
CM Nayab Singh Saini’s Defense
In his official reply, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini stood firm on the government’s record. “There has been no such case in which leakage of paper has been proved,” Saini stated on the floor of the House.
The Veterinary Surgeon Exam Case
While denying proven leaks, the Chief Minister addressed the specific controversy surrounding the recruitment for 383 posts of Veterinary Surgeon (Group-B) in the Animal Husbandry & Dairying Department.
- The Allegation: Following the written test on January 15, 2023, applicants moved the Punjab & Haryana High Court (CWP No. 2710 of 2023) alleging a leak.
- The Inquiry: Acting on High Court directions from February 2023, the HPSC requested the Haryana Director General of Police (DGP) to conduct an inquiry.
- Current Status: The CM noted that the investigation is still ongoing. To avoid further delays for aspirants, the Commission cancelled the initial exam on November 17, 2023, and conducted a fresh subject knowledge test and interview process, sending final recommendations in June 2024.
- Official Clean Chit: Saini emphasized that, to date, “No Government Officers/Officials at the level of the Haryana Public Service Commission have been found involved in the allegation of paper leak.”
Why This Matters for Aspirants?
The issue of paper leaks in Haryana has been a major political flashpoint, affecting the trust of lakhs of youth preparing for government jobs. The opposition’s questioning reflects the growing demand for transparency in the HSSC and HPSC recruitment processes. With the government denying proven leaks while investigations remain pending, the political tug-of-war over “transparent recruitment” is likely to continue dominating the Assembly proceedings.