Jaipur: Hours after PM Narendra Modi said govts were working with “full commitment” to eliminate examination fraud and paper leaks, the Rajasthan govt Friday reiterated its zero-tolerance policy against recruitment scams, claiming that a sustained crackdown over the past two-and-a-half years helped restore the confidence of job aspirants.Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma said the BJP govt conducted 383 recruitment examinations with “complete transparency” and introduced a stricter verification mechanism to curb malpractice in the recruitment process.“Our govt adopted a zero-tolerance policy against paper leaks and recruitment irregularities. Strict action against the paper leak mafia restored the faith of Rajasthan’s youth in the recruitment process,” Sharma said.Targeting the previous Congress govt, Sharma alleged that question papers of 17 recruitment examinations were leaked during its tenure, affecting lakhs of candidates and undermining confidence in the recruitment system.According to the CM, Rajasthan has registered 163 FIRs in paper leak cases and arrested 569 accused so far. In the alleged sub-inspector recruitment scam, 150 people, including 71 sub-inspectors, have been arrested. Former Rajasthan Public Service Commission members Babulal Katara and Ramuram Raika are also among those arrested.“Those who secured govt jobs through unfair means are being held accountable. No one involved in recruitment fraud will be spared,” Sharma said.The govt said it terminated the services of 188 public servants who allegedly secured jobs fraudulently, cancelled appointment orders of 135 physical education teachers and initiated investigations against 454 govt employees. It added that action was taken in cases involving OMR sheet manipulation, dummy candidates, and forged documents.Sharma said the state provided more than 1.78 lakh govt jobs during the BJP govt’s tenure of two-and-a-half years, while recruitment for nearly one lakh posts is underway. A recruitment calendar for another 1.25 lakh vacancies has also been released.The statement came a day after Modi, addressing students, said the Centre and state govts were working with “full commitment” to curb paper leaks and examination fraud, assuring aspirants that those responsible for such crimes would face stringent action.
