At least 36 candidates shortlisted for the post of lower division clerk-cum-typist with the Delhi Development Authority had used impersonators in an examination conducted in January 2013.
This was revealed after experts matched fingerprints and handwriting of candidates obtained at various stages of the recruitment process, police said on Tuesday.
The DDA reported the matter to Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) and a case of cheating under Indian Penal Code was filed last week. The recruitment for vacant posts was held with the approval of former Lieutenant Governor Tejendra Khanna. “An advertisement was issued in 2010 calling for applications from interested candidates. The entire process was outsourced to EdCIL (India),” a police officer said.
The written examination of 92,825 candidates was then conducted on January 5 and 6 in four sessions spread over 73 centers.
According to Deputy Director (DDA Recruitment Cell) S Roy Biswas, after the written examination, 1,431 candidates -- five times the number of vacancies notified -- were shortlisted for appearing for a skill test.
“Out of the 1,431 candidates, 1,216 candidates appeared for the test and 167 candidates were shortlisted,” Biswas told police.
However, at that point a complaint regarding the examination was received by the DDA.
“We deployed our staff for verifying the antecedents of the candidates and in pursuance thereof, handwriting samples along with thumb impressions of the candidates were obtained on prescribed formats,” DDA said in the complaint.
Fingerprint experts Shahid Hasan, Ganga Ram and S K Chadha and handwriting experts S L Mukhi, D D Goel and S C Gupta were then engaged to match the fingerprints and hand writing of the candidates. It was found that out of the 167 candidates, 33 candidates had used impersonators as the thumb impressions and handwriting samples taken at various stages did not tally.
Finally, letters offering employment were sent to 121 remaining candidates with a specific clause asking them not to accept them if they had used unfair means in the past.
However, DDA found that three more candidates whose fingerprints did not tally with those obtained earlier.
They too have been barred from joining DDA pending an enquiry.