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Chandigarh: Exploring a possible leak of the examination paper for the recruitment of Group-B officers in various Punjab government departments, the Punjab Subordinate Services Selection Board (PSSSB) has asked the Vigilance Bureau, Punjab, to conduct a detailed investigation into the matter.
Around one lakh candidates had appeared for the recruitment examination conducted by the Board on December 21, 2025, for over 400 posts across five categories — Senior Assistant, Naib Tehsildar, Senior Assistant-cum-Inspector, Treasury Officer and District Treasury Officer. Guru Nanak Dev University conducted the examination, and the results were declared on January 9.
The Vigilance probe was sought after the Board received a complaint flagging a highly unusual concentration of toppers from Bathinda district. According to the complaint, all five toppers in the examination were from Bathinda, while 22 candidates among the top 100 successful candidates also hailed from the same district.
The results further raised suspicion as several of the top performers were closely related. Among the toppers were a married couple, two siblings and two cousins. One sibling secured 117.50 marks out of 120, while the other scored 115 marks. Among the cousins, one candidate obtained 117.50 marks, while the other secured 116.25 marks. Additionally, a female candidate ranked sixth with 106.75 marks, while her husband stood seventh with 101.25 marks.
The complaint also alleged that some of these candidates had failed earlier recruitment examinations, including those for patwaris and labour inspectors, further fueling suspicion that the question paper may have been leaked.
Sources said the suspicion centred on Bathinda, where the question papers were reportedly in the custody of an Education Department officer. The Board is learnt to have conducted a preliminary inquiry into the allegations before formally requesting the Vigilance Bureau to initiate an investigation.
Officials said the Vigilance Bureau will now examine the entire process, including the custody, movement and security of the question papers, as well as the role of any officials involved, to ascertain whether there was any breach or manipulation.
