BFUHS Pharmacy Exam Paper Leak Sparks Political Storm, Opposition Targets AAP Government
Opposition demands resignation of education minister Harjot Singh Bains
CHANDIGARH: The alleged leak of the Pharmacy Officer recruitment examination paper conducted by Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS) has snowballed into a major political controversy, with the opposition accusing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of attempting to cover up a serious examination scam instead of ordering an independent probe. The opposition parties have demanded resignation of education minister Harjot Singh Bains.
The controversy erupted after 26 candidates were arrested for allegedly using electronic devices during the examination. While the Punjab Government has maintained that it was merely a case of cheating through electronic gadgets, candidates, social activists and opposition parties have alleged that the incident points to a well-organised paper leak racket.
The issue has placed the Bhagwant Mann government in an uncomfortable position, particularly because senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia had taken a strong stand against paper leaks before the party came to power in Punjab.
During a protest in Delhi against alleged examination leaks, Sisodia had declared that if any examination paper was leaked in Punjab, the AAP government would sack the minister concerned. At that time, AAP had demanded the resignation of then Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations.
Now, following the BFUHS controversy, opposition parties are demanding similar accountability from the Punjab Government and are seeking action against Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains, accusing the government of adopting double standards.
The controversy has deepened after several candidates pointed to what they describe as glaring irregularities in the conduct of the examination.The critics have alleged that pharmacy paper was sold for Rs.13 lakh to each student.
Candidates alleged that only one set of question papers was prepared, unlike the normal practice of using multiple sets to prevent malpractice. They also claimed that the question paper packets were not properly sealed before distribution, raising serious questions about the security of confidential examination material.
Several candidates further alleged that the CCTV cameras installed at the examination centre were not functioning, making it impossible to effectively monitor examination halls or verify events during the test.
Another major question being raised is how candidates managed to carry electronic communication devices inside the examination halls despite security checks. Police investigations have revealed that some candidates were allegedly receiving answers from persons stationed outside the examination centres through electronic gadgets.
Critics argue that the presence of such devices inside examination halls indicates serious lapses in security arrangements and supervision.
Candidates who appeared in the examination have demanded that the recruitment test be cancelled and conducted afresh. They have also sought a CBI inquiry into the entire episode, alleging that the incident cannot be treated merely as a case of copying.
Social activist Shankar Sharma alleged that the scam was "pre-planned" and claimed that selected candidates had received access to the question paper even before the examination commenced.
According to Sharma, the arrests made by the police represent only a small part of the operation, while the larger conspiracy behind the alleged paper leak remains untouched. He accused the government of attempting to limit the investigation to cheating cases to avoid ordering a re-examination.
"The government appears reluctant to conduct a fresh examination because that would expose the extent of the leak and the failure of the examination system," Sharma alleged.
Opposition leaders have seized upon the controversy to attack the AAP government, arguing that the standards demanded by AAP while in opposition should now be applied in Punjab.
They have questioned whether the government will honour its earlier commitment of fixing ministerial responsibility in cases of paper leaks.
The controversy has also revived criticism over the Punjab Government's handling of previous examination scandals.
The latest controversy is not an isolated incident. Punjab has witnessed several examination leak allegations in recent years:
2022: The Naib Tehsildar recruitment examination was allegedly leaked. A Vigilance inquiry was ordered, but no conclusive action or final report has emerged in the public domain.
2023: The Punjab School Education Board Class XII English examination paper was leaked, forcing authorities to cancel the examination and conduct it again.
June 2024: The Agriculture Development Officer recruitment examination also came under the cloud of an alleged paper leak, triggering widespread criticism.
The recurrence of such controversies has intensified concerns over the integrity of recruitment examinations in Punjab and raised fresh questions about the effectiveness of preventive measures adopted by examination authorities.
With candidates demanding a re-examination, calls growing for an independent investigation, and opposition parties mounting political pressure, the BFUHS Pharmacy Officer examination controversy is likely to remain a major challenge for the Bhagwant Mann government in the coming days.
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