Former Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition Bhupinder Hooda on Monday alleged widespread irregularities in the Haryana Teachers Eligibility Test (HTET), held on July 4 and 5, and demanded a comprehensive and impartial investigation.
Allegations of Malpractices
Speaking to reporters, Hooda stated that numerous complaints had been received from examination centres, citing distribution of incorrect OMR sheets, wrong question papers, and unsealed question paper packets. He argued that these lapses raised serious concerns about the exam's integrity and called for a transparent probe.
“It appears that the BJP government is not conducting examinations but playing a cruel joke on the candidates. There were instances of incorrect paper distribution, flaws in paper setting, mismatches between the serial numbers of OMR sheets and question papers, and errors in the language of questions, suggesting that the entire paper had been prepared by a novice,” he said.
Demand for Action
Besides seeking an impartial inquiry, Hooda demanded that the government address candidates' grievances and take strict action against those responsible for the alleged irregularities.
“While irregularities continue to plague teacher recruitment examinations in the state, 16 per cent of teaching posts remain vacant. As many as 16,435 of the 1,01,499 sanctioned posts are lying vacant. Yet, instead of filling these vacancies, the government remains preoccupied with examination-related scandals,” he added.
Criticism of State Debt
Hooda also expressed concern over Haryana's rising debt, claiming that the total debt from the state's formation in 1966 to 2014 was around Rs 60,000–70,000 crore. Under the BJP government, he alleged, the debt has surged to nearly Rs 5.50 lakh crore between 2014 and 2026, accusing the BJP of pushing the state deep into debt.
Other Allegations
The former chief minister alleged multiple scams during the BJP regime, including a new paddy procurement scam in Karnal. “Similarly, one scam after another is coming to light in the banking sector. Yet, as always, the government is trying to cover up the entire matter. Leaving aside banks, examinations and crops, this is a government under whose watch even the offerings made at the Lord Ram temple have allegedly been embezzled,” he said.
Hooda reiterated that the investigation into the Ram Mandir theft case should be conducted under the supervision of a sitting judge to ensure no guilty person escapes and no innocent person is falsely implicated.
