A Delhi court has convicted Dr. Balwinder Kumar Sharma, the former Registrar (Recruitment) of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, along with two women, Sunita and Sushila, in connection with the 2017 Haryana Civil Services (Judicial Branch) Preliminary Examination paper leak case.
Principal District & Sessions Judge Anju Bajaj Chandna of Rouse Avenue Courts determined that the prosecution successfully proved its case against Sharma and the other accused through circumstantial evidence.
Sharma and Sunita have each been sentenced to five years in prison. Sharma has also been fined ₹1,50,000, while Sunita faces a fine of ₹60,000. Sushila was sentenced to the time already served during the trial and fined ₹10,000.
The court acquitted Ayushi, Sunil Kumar Chopra @ Titu, Kuldeep Singh, Subhash Chander Godara, Sushil Bhadu, and Tajinder Bishnoi, who were also implicated in the case.
Judge Chandna remarked on the significant impact of paper leaks on candidates and emphasized the need for stringent laws to combat such issues. She praised the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act 2024 as a positive step but called for long-term reforms to enhance transparency, fairness, and credibility in public examinations.
The judge highlighted that the case exemplifies the principle that “there are no shortcuts to success,” noting that attempts at shortcuts often lead to disappointment.
In December of the previous year, the court upheld charges against Sharma, noting that he was in possession of the question paper shortly before the leak. The court also confirmed a January 31, 2020, decision from a Chandigarh sessions court that had framed charges against Sharma. In 2021, the Supreme Court allowed Sharma’s request to transfer the trial to Delhi.
Sharma had been suspended and reassigned to Ropar by the Punjab and Haryana High Court following the paper leak and was subsequently arrested.
He faced charges under Sections 8, 9, 13(1)(d) read with 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and Sections 409, 420, 120B, and 201 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.
Posted and reproduced in Public Interest by
Adv. Sulaiman Bhimani Legal Consultant
Expert in RERA & Consumer Matters, Co-operative Scty Matters,
Deem Conveyance, Family Matters, and Property Disputes.
Human and Civil Rights Campaigner
President Citizens Justice Forum https://citizensjusticeforum.in
YouTube Channel https://tinyurl.com/CitizensJusticeForum
NEW CHANNEL FOR STOCK MARKET https://tinyurl.com/GreenWallet
WhatsApp +91 99877 43676