The Punjab and Haryana High Court has ordered an immediate halt to the selection process for 454 pharmacy officer positions in Punjab following allegations of a widespread cheating scandal during the recruitment examination.
Justice Sandeep Moudgil issued the stay order on August 10, freezing all appointment procedures until the next hearing scheduled for September 17. The ruling was handed down after petitioner counsel Advocate K S Dadwal and state representatives requested additional time to submit their respective responses.
The legal challenge was initiated by Keshav Kamboj and other applicants seeking the complete cancellation of the written test conducted on July 19. The petitioners contended that an organized syndicate compromised the fairness of the entire evaluation.
Inter-State Cheating Network Exposed
The recruitment drive was launched via a June 11, 2026 advertisement issued by the Baba Farid University of Health Sciences on behalf of Punjab’s Department of Health and Family Welfare. Approximately 7,000 candidates sat for the exam across 25 evaluation centers located in Faridkot, Kotkapura, and Ferozepur.
On the day of the exam, Punjab Police uncovered and dismantled an elaborate inter-state cheating operation. Law enforcement officers arrested key conspirators alongside participating examinees, confiscating 27 battery-operated wireless cheating devices, pen cameras, and real-time dictation equipment. Police inquiries revealed that the syndicate extorted between Rs 3.5 lakh and Rs 13 lakh per candidate in exchange for guaranteed passing marks.
Prior Orders and Political Backlash
The latest court action builds upon a July 28 interim order, in which the bench ruled that any subsequent steps in the hiring process would remain subject to the petition’s ultimate resolution.
The incident has also escalated into political friction within the state. Opposition parties launched sharp criticisms against the ruling Aam Aadmi Party administration, demanding the immediate resignations of Health Minister Balbir Singh and Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains.
