On Friday, District Magistrate Savin Bansal and SSP Ajay Singh, representing the government, arrived at the protest site to speak with the youth protesting against the paper leak. The youth listened to both officers calmly, but refused to listen. They had their own arguments for everything they said, and demanded they provide evidence. The protesting youth stated that they were unconvinced by their past records. They remained firm on their demands. They stated that they would accept nothing less than the cancellation of the exam and a CBI investigation. After approximately an hour of discussions, the District Magistrate and SSP had to leave the protest site.
Whatever input you have, the government is not backing down: DM
District Magistrate Savin Bansal told them that the government is serious about the issues of paper leaks and cheating that have emerged so far. The police administration investigated and found cheating at one center. Action has been taken against all officers and employees who were negligent in this matter. Therefore, to ensure the integrity of the entire examination, an SIT investigation has been ordered. The SIT’s jurisdiction will be the entire state. The investigation so far has focused solely on cheating, not paper leaks. This investigation will not be conducted behind closed doors; any report will be made public. The government and administration are not backing down from this. The District Magistrate said, “Please provide whatever input you have to the SIT. If you still don’t believe the report, you are free to do so.” 25,000 recruitments have been made in four years. All of this has been done transparently. Citing his own example, he said, “I, too, was unemployed for some time.”
“The Commission has lost credibility due to past records: Bobby Panwar”
“Unemployed Association leader Bobby Panwar said that if we are talking about credibility, it has already lost credibility based on the past. Several audio clips went viral, including one that discussed leaving OMR sheets blank. Commission Chairman G.S. Martolia was claiming that not a single question would be leaked, let alone a single paper leak. These statements no longer raise any credibility issues.” He added that the youth of Uttarakhand are demanding a CBI investigation. Far more youth are protesting elsewhere than those gathered here. The youth are demanding the cancellation of the exam and an impartial investigation.
Every time the paper is leaked, an SIT is formed.
Regarding the SIT, the youth said that whenever a paper is leaked, an SIT is formed to investigate. The SIT investigation yields no results. Bobby Panwar said that in 2016, the VPDO exam was leaked. At that time, an SIT was formed, but the investigation remained inconclusive. Panwar said that he had climbed a tank in this same parade ground for 12 hours, and was subsequently jailed. He has no faith in the system. Panwar said that he was also being suspected in this case, and that Bobby would also be prosecuted. Therefore, he wants a CBI investigation, and it should begin with him, so that the truth can be revealed.
Why the case was filed in Raipur, the SSP explained
The youth repeatedly raised the issue that the paper leak occurred in Haridwar, but the case was filed in Raipur. The youth questioned the government’s intentions on this issue. SSP Ajay Singh stepped forward to answer their questions. He explained that the law mandates that a case be filed where the commission or its establishment is located. The UKSSSC is located in the Raipur area. Therefore, a case can only be filed at the Raipur police station based on their complaint. In 2021 and before, whenever such a case was reported in the commission’s examinations, cases were filed at the Raipur police station. When allegations of rigging were uncovered in the State Public Service Commission exam, the case was filed in Haridwar. This is because the commission is located in Haridwar.
Retired Justice Verma was also questioned.
The youth also questioned the appointment of retired Justice BS Verma to oversee the SIT investigation. They pointed out that former Justice Verma has political connections. He previously served in the Panchayati Raj Department. Furthermore, his brother is a BJP leader. Furthermore, his nephew is currently the president of the Haridwar District Panchayat. In such a situation, the big question is how he will monitor this investigation impartially.
