Chandigarh: More than 7,000 candidates who appeared for the Punjab Pharmacist Officer recruitment examination are facing uncertainty after an alleged cheating racket was uncovered during the test, prompting a wider police investigation.
The recruitment examination was conducted to fill 454 Pharmacist Officer posts in the Punjab Government.
Around 30 candidates caught cheating
According to officials, nearly 30 candidates were allegedly caught using Bluetooth devices to cheat during the examination.
The suspected use of electronic gadgets has raised serious concerns about the integrity of the recruitment process and the fairness of the examination for thousands of genuine candidates.
Police launch wider probe
Following the detection of the alleged malpractice, police have launched a detailed investigation to determine the extent of the cheating network and identify those involved.
Officials are also probing whether the accused candidates were part of an organised racket that facilitated the use of Bluetooth devices during the examination.
Recruitment process under scrutiny
The incident has sparked concerns over security arrangements during government recruitment examinations and may impact the recruitment process for the 454 Pharmacist Officer vacancies.
Authorities are expected to examine the findings of the investigation before taking a decision on the validity of the examination and any further action against those involved.
Further details are awaited as the investigation progresses.