• AAP Files PIL in Bombay High Court on Paper Leak Issue
Unmesh Gujarathi
Sprouts News Exclusive
Dhananjay Shinde, in collaboration with various student organizations, has been working with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) over the years to address corruption in the government recruitment process. Despite presenting substantial evidence to the state government, relevant departments, ministers, and even the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, and Home Minister over the last 4-5 years, the government has not taken any action regarding the paper leak scandal. Therefore, on September 21, 2023, AAP and the Competitive Exams Coordination Committee jointly filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Bombay High Court, and the hearing is currently underway.
Key Demands of AAP Regarding Government Recruitment:
The recently declared result of the Talathi recruitment exam held from August 17, 2023, to September 14, 2023, for 4,644 posts should be immediately canceled, and a new exam should be conducted within 45 days by the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC).
All future government recruitment exams should be conducted through MPSC.
A special committee should be appointed under the supervision of the Bombay High Court to investigate all past paper leaks. This committee must submit its report within 30 days, and strict action should be taken against the guilty parties.
A special legislative session should be convened this month to create stringent laws to prevent corruption and paper leaks in recruitment exams.
The examination fee for all government recruitment exams should be reduced to Rs. 100.
Details of the Talathi Recruitment Paper Leak 2023
The Talathi recruitment exam, conducted by TCS ION, had 57 shifts between August 17 and September 14, 2023. Out of 10,041,713 applicants, 864,960 candidates appeared for the exam. Numerous irregularities were reported during the exam, including the following:
Nashik Paper Leak: Ganesh Gusinge, involved in previous paper leaks such as the Pimpri-Chinchwad Police and MHADA recruitment exams, leaked the Talathi exam paper on the first day. The FIR states that 186 photos of the question paper were found with the accused, who used advanced tools like spy cameras and micro Bluetooth devices.
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Shrigonda, Ahmednagar: A candidate was caught copying from a book during the exam, raising concerns about the lax security measures at the Talathi exam centers.
Wardha: Staff at a computer lab exam center took a laptop outside the exam hall during the exam and returned it after a while. The reason provided for this was vague, and it raised questions about the integrity of the exam.
Amravati and Sangli FIRs: In these districts, candidates were arrested with high-tech devices used to leak the exam papers before the exam started.
Sambhaji Nagar TCS ION Exam Center: An invigilator was caught providing answers through rough sheets, and other staff members were also arrested for their involvement in helping candidates during the exam.
The video evidence of these irregularities can be found on various YouTube links, showcasing incidents from different exam centers.
These irregularities point to large-scale corruption, with several centers possibly involved in the leak. The suspicion arises that multiple shifts of the exam may have been compromised. With numerous candidates and millions of rupees at stake, the honest aspirants have been cheated. AAP is demanding the cancellation of the Talathi recruitment and the conduct of a fresh exam through MPSC within 45 days.
Shinde, Rahul Kawathekar and AAP are determined to ensure transparency in the recruitment process and ensure justice for the affected candidates who have been victims of systemic corruption.
In this fight for transparency and justice, Sprouts News stands with the students. Our senior council’s legal team is providing support and guidance to ensure the voices of the affected candidates are heard and justice is served. We are committed to shedding light on this matter and ensuring that corruption in recruitment processes is eradicated.