# Punjab HC stays pharmacy officer recruitment over cheating row

2026-08-12T19:37:33+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 3 independent outlets

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has stayed the appointment of 454 pharmacy officers until September 17, following allegations of an organised cheating racket in the July 19 written examination. The court also stalled recruitment for 41 Block Programme Managers and 44 Cluster Coordinators under the Punjab State Rural Livelihoods Mission until September 2, citing irregularities in mark allocation. A petition by Keshav Kamboj and others sought cancellation of the pharmacy officer exam. BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi on Thursday targeted Arvind Kejriwal over the order, questioning the Punjab government's recruitment process. The next hearings will decide whether a fresh test is needed.

## Coverage

- ndtv.com <https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/punjab-pharmacy-officers-recruitment-halted-by-high-court-over-cheating-row-11902080>
- indiatvnews.com <https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/punjab-pharmacy-officer-recruitment-put-on-hold-by-high-court-amid-faridkot-paper-leak-row-2026-08-12-1051181>
- indiatoday.in <https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/punjab-pharmacy-officer-recruitment-stayed-bjp-targets-arvind-kejriwal-ptag-2970155-2026-08-13?utm_source=rss>

Tags: Baba Farid University, cheating, High court, paper leak, pharmacy recruitment, Punjab
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