Ajmer, June 5: The Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) has dismissed Saroj Bishnoi, a Grade-I Clerk, from government service after it was found that she secured her position through cheating in the Junior Assistant/Clerk Grade-II Combined Direct Recruitment Examination-2018. Bishnoi, who completed nearly six years of service, was found to have violated the Rajasthan Civil Services Conduct Rules by using unfair means to pass the exam.
The commission cited a lack of integrity and unethical conduct on Bishnoi’s part, which is a clear violation of service rules. According to Rule 3, every government employee must maintain a high level of integrity and duty. Bishnoi’s actions were deemed entirely unbecoming of a government servant.
Use of Unfair Means and Bluetooth Devices
Investigations revealed that Bishnoi used Bluetooth devices to obtain answers during the examination. In exchange, she handed over signed checks to the main accused, Paurav Kaler, which constitutes serious misconduct and corruption.
The issue came to light following a complaint to the commission, leading to a First Information Report (FIR) filed by the Special Operations Group (SOG). The investigation uncovered that Kaler and his accomplices had solved the leaked paper and transmitted answers to Bishnoi via Bluetooth during the exam. The commission initiated a departmental inquiry under the Rajasthan Civil Services (Classification, Control, and Appeal) Rules, 1958.
During the inquiry, Bishnoi attempted to delay proceedings by citing illness and hospitalization. She also argued that the departmental investigation should be halted until the criminal case was resolved in court. However, the commission dismissed her objection, referencing established judicial precedents that allow both investigations to proceed concurrently to maintain administrative integrity.
High Court Dismisses Plea to Halt Inquiry
Bishnoi filed a writ petition in the Rajasthan High Court to stop the departmental inquiry, referencing the SOG’s FIR. The court rejected her arguments, clarifying that the criminal case related to examination cheating and collusion is distinct from the departmental charges of lack of integrity and misconduct. The court ruled that there is no justification for halting disciplinary proceedings in such serious matters and dismissed her stay application. Following the completion of the departmental investigation, the commission ultimately dismissed Saroj Bishnoi from government service.