Bathinda, 21 July 2026: Although at national level alleged scam related to NEET is echoing, but vigilance has failed to trace such a case in Punjab. The matter is of alleged scam in merit list of recruitment examination for Group-B posts by Punjab Subordinate Services Selection Board. Even after six months of result declaration, officials are saying investigation is being done. Punjab Government had formed a 4-member SIT under leadership of a DSP to inquire into the matter. Due to this high-profile inquiry hanging mid-way, there is disappointment among unemployed. This whole controversy is related to written examination held on 21st December last year for recruitment of 408 posts like Naib Tehsildar, District Treasury Officer, Treasury Officer, Senior Assistant and Senior Assistant-cum-Inspector.
Result of this recruitment examination was announced on 9 January 2026 after which immediately talk of alleged scam started rising. Suspicion of irregularity during this examination deepened when 'correction fluid' (whitener) was found applied on question papers distributed to candidates at an examination centre in Bathinda. Then candidates had alleged that paper was tampered with even before distributing. Controversy heated up further when in announced results, out of first 100 successful candidates, 22 alone were found belonging to Bathinda district. Important thing is also that in this list there was a married couple, two real siblings and two cousin siblings also, which raised big question marks on transparency of selection process.
According to result, candidates at first and second position had same 117.50 marks out of 120 while girl at fourth position had 116.25 and fifth position had 115 marks. Sixth position is of female candidate with 106.75 marks while one with 101.25 marks came at seventh position. These youths preparing in various libraries of Bathinda said that they had never seen such result before. They said that they have been preparing for competitive examinations Group B, Group C, civil service, PCS and IAS for last many years but their score could reach only 80 to 100. They said that if you look at Bathinda recruitment examination result then transparency is under suspicion.
On this occasion about one lakh candidates of Punjab had given examination. Victim youth have demanded early completion of investigation of this alleged scam, exposing culprits and re-conducting examination. They said that due to this alleged paper leak, future of entire hardworking youth has become bleak. After candidates raised serious questions on recruitment process, Board had written letter to vigilance in January this year for investigation. Youth demanding justice told that they had complained to many politicians, MLAs and senior officers but no one held their hand. They told that after this matter was brought to notice of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who had given full assurance to youth of conducting impartial inquiry.
Investigation ongoing: DSP Vigilance
Only saying of DSP Vigilance Muktsar Sahib Amandeep Singh who is investigating the matter was that investigation of matter is still going on.
**History of scams in Punjab
This is not the first case in Punjab but many years ago also alleged job scam had happened during alliance government. On this occasion it had come to light that more than hundred candidates had got jobs by paying lakhs of rupees. Regarding recruitment done in many departments of Punjab Government, police had also made arrests from other states including an Akali leader from Malout. In the case, an Akali leader of Bathinda district was also nominated and sons of BJP leader of Talwandi Sabo were interrogated. Then role of person known as Guru Ji of Lucknow had also come to light. Later what happened to this case, no information could be found.