After a series of paper leak cases in the state, the Uttarakhand Public Service Commission smoothly conducted the lekhpal recruitment examination on Sunday. Over one lakh candidates appeared in the Uttarakhand lekhpal recruitment examination amid tight security arrangements by the authorities in the wake of a series of question paper leak cases.


It was the first recruitment examination by the Uttarakhand Public Service Commission after the introduction of a strict anti-copying law in the state recently.


Officials said the paper was held in a "fair and transparent manner" and no untoward incident was reported.


The examination was held at 498 centres across the state in which more than one lakh candidates appeared, Uttarakhand PSC Secretary GS Rawat said.


Several paper leak cases rocked the state in recent months, prompting unemployed youths to hit the streets in Dehradun over the past few days.


The stern anti-copying provision, mandating life term for those found guilty, was brought through an ordinance amid the protest. 


No Other CM Brought Cheating Mafia To Book: Dhami


The Uttarakhand government has acted "boldly" against the "cheating mafia" by bringing a strict anti-copying law and sending those guilty to jail, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said on Sunday, hitting out at those blaming him for a series of recruitment exam question paper leaks.


"It is 22 years since the creation of Uttarakhand. Those opposing me should ask themselves which chief minister sent people involved in paper leak cases to jail. Which chief minister brought the sternest anti-copying law in the country," Dhami said after inaugurating a games and cultural festival at the Kalsi area in the Dehradun district.


He said that he was advised not to attend the function on Sunday as he could face opposition.


Nevertheless, the chief minister said, he decided to come as he knew he had acted "boldly against the cheating mafia by sending 60 of them behind bars and introducing the country's sternest anti-copying law".


People must ask themselves which government showed the courage to lay its hands on the "cheating mafia", Dhami said.


The chief minister said a severe anti-copying law has been brought into force in the state and it has a provision for maximum sentence of life imprisonment for those indulging in or facilitating use of unfair means in recruitment examinations. It also has a provision for a fine of up to Rs 10 crore, he said.


"Did any other government show this courage?" Dhami asked.


It is being investigated whether there is an organisation that is trying to protect the "cheating mafia" by opposing the state government, the chief minister said.


Dhami said that "as the 'mukhya sevak' of the state, I want to assure the youth that no injustice will be allowed to happen to them".


The unemployed youths in Uttarakhand have been protesting against paper leaks in the state with the main opposition party, the Congress, giving them its active support.


(This report has been published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. Apart from the headline, no editing has been done in the copy by ABP Live.)


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