Army expresses regret at conducting exam in candidates’ underwear

An affidavit was submitted in the Patna High Court by Director, Army Recruitment Board, Muzaffarpur, V S Godhara.

The Army on Wednesday regretted conducting a recruitment examination in Muzaffarpur for candidates in their underwear in order to prevent cheating, and promised to take all precautions to prevent its recurrence.

The Army on Wednesday regretted conducting a recruitment examination in Muzaffarpur for candidates in their underwear in order to prevent cheating, and promised to take all precautions to prevent its recurrence. (Hindustan Times Photo)

An affidavit was submitted in the Patna High Court by Director, Army Recruitment Board, Muzaffarpur, V S Godhara. A division bench comprising acting Chief Justice Iqbal Ahmed Ansari and Justice Samrendra Pratap disposed off the PIL after it.

Central government counsel S B Sanjay submitted the affidavit on behalf of Godhara, expressing regret.

“We regret the incident. What happened should not have happened. Assured that the respondent will take all precaution so that no such incidents happen in future,” the affidavit read.

On February 28, around 1,100 candidates appearing for the Army clerk eligibility examinations were made to take their clothes off and sit only in their underwear in an open field in Muzaffarpur, in a bid to prevent copying. This provoked anger and resentment among the candidates.

Reacting to images splashed across the media, the Defence Ministry asked Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhaag to explain.

Colonel V S Godhara of the Army Regional Office had, at that time, defended the action citing previous instances of candidates hiding slips of paper and mobile phones in their undergarments.

The Patna High Court too, took notice of these pictures and filed a suo motu public interest litigation.