Bihar govt cancels BSSC exam in wake of paper leak reports

The cancellation comes in the wake of reports of paper leak before the examination on February 5.

Patna, Feb 8: Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday announced cancellation of examination conducted by Bihar State Staff Selection Commission for recruitment of clerks in state government jobs in the wake of alleged paper leak.

"On the basis of preliminary report of state police chief P K Thakur and recommendation of chief secretary Anjani Kumar Singh, the state government has cancelled the BSSC exam for clerical grade appointment," Kumar told reporters in Patna.

Kumar, accompanied by CS and other officials, made this announcement after emerging from state cabinet meeting at secretariat. The cancellation comes in the wake of reports of paper leak before the examination on February 5.

The chief minister had on Monday said that he ordered a through probe into the paper leak by the CS and DGP. The annulment of the BSSC exam follows intensive questioning of commission secretary Parmeshwar Ram by the Special Investigation Team under supervision of Patna senior superintendent of police Manu Maharaj since late last night.

Taking serious note of allegation of paper leak in the BSSC test, the chief minister had cracked the whip and issued strict instructions to the two top officials to throughly inquire into it following which SIT swung into action.

The latest exam irregularity follows the infamous toppers' scam in the state plus two exam in 2016.

Patna Senior Superintendent of Police Manu Maharaj told PTI that the BSSC Secretary Parmeshwar Ram has been arrested in the paper leak case.

"SIT has arrested Parmeshwar Ram and one another staff of the Commission in this connection," the SSP said.

PTI