The Gujarat government on Tuesday cancelled the exam to recruit head clerks after the paper leaked on December 12.
Police have lodged an FIR and arrested eight persons for their alleged involvement in leaking the exam paper in which 88,000 people had taken the test for 186 vacancies.
The exam was conducted by the Gujarat Subordinate Service Selection Board (GSSSB).
Minister of State (Home) Harsh Sanghavi said the new exam would be conducted next year. He said eight persons had been arrested in the case.
The exam paper leak triggered a major controversy pushing the BJP government on the back foot as the opposition Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party launched a State-wide agitation.
A day after over 88,000 candidates took the December 12 examination, both AAP and Congress leaders claimed they had evidence that the question paper was leaked a night before the examination and sold for ₹6 lakh-12 lakh in various parts of the State.
The government had initially maintained that it had not received any concrete evidence about the leak. Later, the police in north Gujarat lodged an FIR and arrested eight persons who had allegedly procured the exam paper from a staff member of an Ahmedabad printing press contracted by the recruitment agency.
The GSSSB is a State government agency mandated to recruit government staff for subordinate services. It is headed by Asit Vora, former Ahmedabad Mayor and BJP leader.
“Those who have bought the leaked paper will also be held. We will ask the legal department to ensure that the case is tried in a fast-track court,” Mr. Sanghavi told media persons in Gandhinagar.
He said the decision to re-conduct the exam was taken by the Chief Minister in consultation with board and police officials.
“All those who had applied this year will be eligible to appear in the exam,” he added.
However, the State government remains non committal on the resignation of board chief Mr. Vora, during whose tenure the paper was leaked earlier also.
Cong. demands probe
On Tuesday, a delegation of Congress leaders met the Chief Minister demanding a probe by a High Court judge into the issue.
On Monday, around 500 members of the AAP gathered at the State BJP headquarters to hold a protest. Subsequently, AAP’s top leaders in the State have been arrested for allegedly creating ruckus at the BJP office.
