The Punjab and Haryana High Court has stayed the recruitment process for 454 Pharmacist (Pharmacy Officer) posts in Punjab following a petition challenging the procedure conducted by Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS). The court’s order, dated August 10, halted the appointment process initiated under the university’s June 11 advertisement pending the resolution of the writ petition.
The matter was heard by Justice Sandeep Moudgil, who directed that the recruitment process remain until the next hearing, scheduled for September 17. Counsel for the respondents informed the court that the appointment process had already been suspended in light of the ongoing petition.
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BJP MP Sambit Patra criticized the Punjab government over the recruitment examination, which faced allegations of a paper leak. He accused the Aam Aadmi Party-led Punjab administration of downplaying the issue as mere irregularities.
Patra stated, “A few hours ago, the Punjab and Haryana High Court gave a very important decision. Last month, the exams for the recruitment of pharmacy officers in Punjab, which were conducted in July 2026 by Farid University (BFUHS), faced allegations that the paper had been leaked.”
He further alleged, “The government had suspended those accused of wrongdoing but questioned why the examination was not stopped and why a fresh examination was not conducted.”
Patra added, “The Aam Aadmi Party’s Punjab government had claimed that these were merely irregularities and that those who had committed the mischief had been suspended. But a petitioner filed a petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court regarding this entire matter, and today the Punjab and Haryana High Court has made very stern remarks against the Punjab government and asked why on earth this exam was not stopped? Why should the exam not be held again? A stay has been imposed on the This clearly shows that the Punjab government was trying to mislead the public and serve lies.”
He also claimed that Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had repeatedly denied any paper leak. “When the paper leak happened, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had repeatedly said that there was no paper leak. This shows that whether it is the Congress party or the Aam Aadmi Party, they have double standards,” he said.
The High Court order confirms the appointment process for the 454 posts has been stayed pending adjudication of the petition. The court permitted the State and other respondents to file replies, requiring any such reply to be submitted at least one week before the next hearing.
The interim stay will remain effective until the court’s next hearing on September 17.