Uttarakhand, Oct 11 : In a decisive move to uphold the integrity of the recruitment process, the Pushkar Singh Dhami government on Saturday cancelled the controversial Graduate level Uttarakhand Subordinate Services Selection Commission (UKSSSC) examination following an inquiry commission report confirming irregularities and a paper leak.
The decision came after former High Court judge Justice UC Dhyani, who led the one member inquiry commission, submitted his report to the government.
A statement issued by the UKSSSC said, “To maintain the integrity, confidentiality, transparency, and credibility of the examination, it has been decided to cancel the test held on September 21, 2025. A re-examination will be conducted after three months.”
According to officials from the Chief Minister’s Office, the commission’s report recommended quashing the exam due to clear evidence of malpractice. The Dhami government acted swiftly on the findings, especially as protesting candidates had given a 10-day ultimatum for action that expired on Saturday.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami commended the inquiry commission for conducting extensive public hearings and collecting candidates’ testimonies. “The government will study the report and take decisions in the interest of candidates. A recommendation for a CBI probe has already been made to ensure complete impartiality,” he said.
Dhami reiterated his government’s commitment to preserving the sanctity and transparency of all future recruitment exams, promising strict measures to prevent even minor irregularities.
The scandal broke when three pages of the question paper were leaked from a Haridwar examination centre within half an hour of the test’s commencement. The images quickly went viral on social media, sparking outrage among the 1.05 lakh candidates who had appeared for the exam.
Investigations revealed that the main accused, Khalid Malik, smuggled a mobile phone into the exam hall, photographed the paper, and sent the images to his sister Sabia, who forwarded them for answers.
Following massive student protests, particularly in Dehradun, the Dhami government constituted an SIT and an inquiry commission under Justice Dhyani. During the Dussehra eve, CM Dhami personally met the protesting students and announced a CBI probe, assuring that the final decision would rest on the inquiry report a promise now fulfilled.