CHANDIGARH — The recruitment examination for 454 posts of Pharmacy Officer (Pharmacist Group C) in the Punjab Health and Family Welfare Department has unravelled into one of the state’s most sophisticated recruitment scandals.
Conducted on July 19, 2026, by Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS), the test—taken by nearly 7,000 candidates across 25 centres—was compromised by an inter-state syndicate using pen cameras, micro-Bluetooth earpieces, and remote control rooms.
Following public outcry and protests by student unions, the matter reached the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which has placed the entire recruitment on hold.
1. High Court Orders Interim Stay on Final Selection
A division bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court took up a writ petition filed by candidate groups (Keshav Kamboj & Others v. State of Punjab). The petitioners demanded the immediate quashing of the exam, cancellation of answer key evaluations, and a fresh re-examination conducted under tight supervision.
Key Orders Issued by the Court:
- Selection Process Conditional: Justice Sandeep Moudgil ordered that no final selection or appointments can be finalized based on the July 19 exam until the court disposes of the petition.
- State Reprimanded: The court took strong exception to the Punjab Government and BFUHS failing to file their formal replies within the stipulated deadline.
- Status of Protests: Following the High Court’s directive that the outcome of the exam will be bound by judicial oversight, student organizations—including the Punjab Students Union and Naujawan Bharat Sabha—suspended their week-long sit-in outside BFUHS in Faridkot.
2. Anatomy of the Scam: How the Syndicate Operated
Investigations by the Punjab Police reveal an inter-state gang spanning Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan.
Key Elements of the Operation:
- Pen Cameras & Scanners: In centres across Ferozepur and Faridkot, compromised candidates used high-definition micro-pen cameras to scan the question paper within 5 to 10 minutes of the exam commencing.
- WhatsApp Transmission: Images were transmitted via encrypted WhatsApp chats to an accomplice in Bhiwani, Haryana, who forwarded them to a makeshift control room operating out of Society Nagar, Faridkot.
- Micro-Earpieces: Key operatives dictated answers back into the examination halls. Candidates wore miniature, skin-colored Bluetooth earpieces concealed inside turbans, socks, and undergarments.
- Exorbitant Rates: The syndicate reportedly charged candidates between ₹3.5 lakh and ₹13 lakh per seat, taking post-dated bank cheques as collateral.
3. “Paper Leak” vs. “Real-Time Cheating”: The Official Stance
A central point of friction between student groups and the state government centers on the exact definition of the breach:
| Stakeholder | Argument & Position |
|---|---|
| BFUHS & Punjab Police | Real-Time Cheating, Not a Prior Leak: Officials claim the paper was not leaked prior to the exam start time. The breach occurred in real-time via unauthorized electronic devices, caught by BFUHS flying squads. |
| Protesting Candidates & Opposition | Systemic Compromise: Student groups argue that an exam breached within 5 minutes across multiple districts constitutes a paper leak that ruins fairness for honest aspirants, alleging insider connivance. |
4. Police Action & Key Arrests
To date, 35 individuals have been arrested in connection with the scam:
- 28 Candidates caught red-handed with concealed wireless devices.
- 7 Masterminds/Conspirators, including the alleged kingpin, Gurmeet Singh (an employee of Sant Kabir Polytechnic College, Fazilka).
- Seizures: 27 battery-operated micro-wireless earpieces, multiple pen cameras, and post-dated cheques. An FIR has been registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology (IT) Act.
What Lies Ahead?
The future of the 454 Pharmacy Officer posts hinges entirely on the High Court’s ruling. If the court determines that the integrity of the test was irredeemably compromised across centres, the written exam will be formally canceled and rescheduled under stricter anti-cheating protocols.
