L-G Anil Baijal cancels exam to recruit teachers over paper leak issue

Lieutenant-Governor (L-G) Anil Baijal on Tuesday cancelled a Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board (DSSSB) examination for recruiting primary teachers in MCD-run schools, after a Delhi Police report alleged cheating during the test on October 29.

The move comes days after chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia demanded the cancellation of the examination, stating that the question papers were leaked. "The L-G has cancelled the DSSSB examination held on October 29. 

The move follows a report by the Delhi Police on the issue of alleged cheating in the examination," his office said in a statement. Baijal directed the education secretary to take strict disciplinary action against all staff identified in the case and submit an action taken report within 10 days.

Following the allegations of cheating, an FIR was registered on October 29 and the matter was handed over to the Crime Branch for a swift investigation.

According to the L-G's office, Baijal had directed Delhi Police commissioner Amulya Patnaik to investigate the matter in a time-bound manner.

Baijal then issued directions to the DSSSB chairman to reconduct the examination expeditiously, so that vacancies could be filled as soon as possible.

"The DSSSB may review their systems and methods of conducting the examination thoroughly and also look into the modus-operandi employed by the accused, so that in the future, all such loopholes can be plugged," the statement read.

Earlier this month, Kejriwal had sought Baijal's nod on the Delhi government's decision to cancel the DSSSB examination.

In November, Sisodia had written to the L-G, seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged DSSSB examination paper leak case and had demanded strict action against the officials involved.