Dehradun: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to upholding the integrity of competitive examinations in the state, amid recent controversy over alleged irregularities. Speaking at a press interaction on Thursday, the CM strongly defended the state’s anti-cheating law, claiming it to be one of the most stringent in the country.
Dhami highlighted that since the enactment of the Uttarakhand Anti-Cheating Act in 2022-23, over 100 individuals involved in exam fraud and paper leaks have been arrested. He further noted that 25,000 government job appointments were made successfully over the past four years without any malpractice— a claim he attributes directly to the enforcement of the law.
“In our state, we’ve taken the toughest measures against the cheating mafia,” Dhami said. “And as a result, not a single examination has been derailed due to malpractice in the last four years. This is a major achievement for both the administration and the youth.”
However, the Chief Minister also expressed concern over recent disruptions caused by online rumors about an alleged paper leak during a recent recruitment exam. Without naming any individuals, Dhami criticized those who, according to him, “chose to spread panic on social media rather than inform the authorities.”
“If someone genuinely believed that the paper had been leaked, it was their duty to alert the police or the examination board immediately. But instead, they took to social media to create unrest. This raises serious questions about their intent,” he stated, calling the incident “an attempt to discredit the system” rather than a real breach.
To address these concerns, Dhami announced that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) will probe the matter thoroughly. “Based on the findings of the SIT, we will take strict and appropriate action,” he said, adding that “those trying to push the future of our youth into darkness” will not be spared.
He reiterated that protecting the credibility of the examination process is a top priority for his government. “Whether it’s a real leak or a staged disruption, we will act decisively. Fake mafias operating under the guise of activism will be dealt with under the full force of the law.”
The Chief Minister concluded his remarks with a firm message to detractors: “We are not going to allow anyone to play with the dreams of Uttarakhand’s youth. The system we have built will not be broken by fear-mongering or misinformation.”
The opposition is expected to respond in the coming days as political pressure builds over the fairness and transparency of recruitment processes in the state.
