In a significant blow to thousands of aspiring educators, the Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC) on Tuesday announced the immediate cancellation of the written examination for Assistant Professors in Hindi. This drastic step comes amidst a storm of serious allegations, including claims of question paper tampering, critical security lapses, and even the purported leak of the question paper on the very day of the examination. The cancellation has reignited public debate over the integrity of recruitment processes in Haryana and drawn sharp criticism from opposition leaders.
The examination, which was conducted to recruit Assistant Professors of Hindi in the state’s colleges, has been fraught with controversy since its inception. While sources within the HPSC initially attributed the cancellation primarily to “technical lapses” in the printing of question papers and issues related to “substandard seals” on the papers provided to candidates, they vehemently denied any direct tampering or confirmed paper leak. An official from HPSC stated, “Soon after the exams, we received hundreds of emails about technical mistakes. We put these before subject experts, who endorsed the same. As errors (largely printing ones) were beyond correction, we decided to cancel the exam. There was no tampering, lapse, or secrecy breach.”
However, this official explanation stands in stark contrast to the widespread allegations from candidates and public figures. Aspiring candidates have reported numerous anomalies, raising concerns about the sanctity of the examination process. Activist Shweta Dhull, who closely monitors recruitment processes, highlighted alarming claims that “six out of a set of 24 question papers were found to be unsealed or opened.” She further asserted that these shortcomings were not isolated to the Hindi exam but were observed in other examinations as well, prompting many candidates to prepare to move the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking redressal.
Opposition parties have been quick to seize upon the cancellation, using it to launch scathing attacks on the ruling BJP government led by Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and the HPSC. Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) state president Ram Pal Majra declared that the cancellation “exposed the BJP government’s functioning.” Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Hooda and Rajya Sabha MP Randeep Surjewala termed the alleged leak as a “betrayal of lakhs of educated youth in Haryana.” Surjewala, in particular, emphasized a recurring pattern, stating, “There is hardly any recruitment that is not being challenged in court or has not faced allegations of wrongdoing.” These statements reflect a growing frustration among the public regarding the transparency and fairness of state-level examinations.
This is not an isolated incident for the HPSC. The Commission has faced numerous instances of alleged paper leaks and irregularities in various examinations over the past five years. Adding to its woes, the HPSC is also reportedly planning to cancel the written exam for Assistant Professors of English, which was held in 2024. Candidates had challenged this particular exam due to over 33 alleged technical mistakes found in the paper, further highlighting systemic issues within the examination body. Beyond specific paper leaks, various writ petitions have also been filed against the government and the Haryana Staff Selection Commission (HSSC) by disgruntled candidates, reflecting broader discontent with the recruitment system.
The repeated incidents of exam cancellations and alleged leaks pose a significant challenge to the state government, eroding public trust in its ability to conduct fair and transparent examinations. For the lakhs of educated youth in Haryana, who invest years of hard work and resources into preparing for these competitive exams, such cancellations represent not just a setback but a profound blow to their aspirations and future prospects. The onus is now on the HPSC and the Haryana government to undertake comprehensive reforms to restore faith in the examination system and ensure that deserving candidates are selected purely on merit. A thorough and transparent investigation into the current allegations surrounding the Hindi Assistant Professor exam, along with a commitment to addressing systemic flaws, will be crucial in moving forward.
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