The Punjab and Haryana High Court has stayed the recruitment process for 454 Pharmacy Officer posts at Baba Farid University of Health Sciences until the next hearing, after a petition sought cancellation and re-examination in the Faridkot paper-leak matter. The court has also issued notice to the Punjab government on the plea, which alleges the examination was compromised by an organised cheating racket.
Interim order and legal direction
In an interim order passed earlier, Justice Sandeep Moudgil directed that further selection for the posts shall remain subject to the court’s orders. The stay came in response to a petition that sought quashing of the results and a fresh examination, claiming widespread irregularities in the recruitment exercise.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Number of posts stayed | 454 |
| Recruiting body | Baba Farid University of Health Sciences |
| Court issuing stay | Punjab and Haryana High Court |
Political reaction
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal reacted sharply to the High Court order on social media, targeting the state leadership. In a post on X, he addressed Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal and Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains. His post said the incident was clearly a paper leak and not a minor cheating case.
“Guru Dokhi @bhagwantmann, super CM @arvindKejriwal and liar no. 1 @harjotbains ~ hope now you know that it’s a paper leak and not a minor cheating case,”
Badal also questioned whether the state government would hold those responsible to account and demanded action against Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains and Health Minister Balbir Singh. The opposition has made the paper-leak allegation a focal point in its criticism of the AAP administration.
Administrative and candidate impact
The stay places the recruitment process on hold, affecting candidates who had participated in the selection exercise and those awaiting appointment in the health sector. Recruitment for pharmacy officers feeds into staffing at hospitals and health facilities across the state; delays could affect deployment schedules and service delivery where new appointees were expected.
- Afflicted group: Candidates who appeared in the recruitment examination.
- Administrative effect: Selection and appointment processes suspended until further orders.
- Legal next steps: The court will hear the petition and submissions from the state in a subsequent hearing.
Background and context
The petition that prompted the High Court notice asserts an organised cheating racket compromised the examination’s integrity. The exact nature of the alleged malpractice and the evidence before the court were not set out in the interim order made public. The court’s notice requires the Punjab government to respond to the allegations at the next hearing.
Paper leaks and recruitment irregularities have been a flashpoint in several states, provoking demands for systemic safeguards and transparency in testing and selection procedures. For Punjab, where public-sector jobs are politically and socially significant, the matter is likely to reverberate through administrative circles and electoral discourse.
What to expect next
The High Court will list the matter for further hearing, during which petitioners, the university and the state may be required to present evidence and legal arguments. Until the court lifts the stay or issues other directions, no further appointments under the contested recruitment exercise can proceed.
Officials at Baba Farid University of Health Sciences and the Punjab government are yet to make a public statement on the court’s interim order. The opposition has indicated it will continue to press for accountability, while candidates and their representatives may seek clarity on the process and timelines for any re-examination or remedial steps.
The case will be monitored closely in the coming weeks given its administrative implications and political fallout.
