Mohali: The Special Court for Prevention of Corruption Act cases has convicted Balwant Singh, then superintendent of the Establishment Branch of the Punjab State Subordinate Services Selection Board (PSSSB), in a case involving alleged manipulation of the board’s 2006 teacher recruitment process.The court, however, acquitted former PSSSB chairman retired Brigadier Charanjeev Singh Harika and computer agency proprietor Gurpal Singh of all charges, giving them the benefit of doubt. Harika was represented by advocate H S Dhanoa and Gurpal by advocate G C Kler.Special Judge Hardip Singh pronounced the judgment on Sept 16, 2026. Proceedings against another accused, Jaspal Singh, superintendent of the Investigation Branch, had abated following his death.The case stemmed from a Vigilance inquiry dated Oct 23, 2007, into alleged irregularities in the 2006 recruitment, for which around 65,000 candidates had applied for teaching and vocational posts.According to the prosecution, committees were formed to scrutinise educational and professional certificates, while a computer agency owned by Gurpal Singh was engaged for data entry and preparation of merit lists.The prosecution alleged that the selection process was manipulated by overlooking eligible, higher-merit candidates and selecting lower-merit or ineligible candidates. It also alleged that reserved-category candidates who had secured enough marks for the general category were excluded from the joint merit list.The allegations included tampering with marks and application forms, selection of ineligible candidates and double selection. The prosecution alleged that 52 candidates were selected after qualification marks were tampered with, 86 were selected despite being ineligible or less meritorious, 167 higher-merit reserved-category candidates were excluded from the joint list, 51 application forms were tampered with to destroy evidence and 16 candidates were selected twice. Seven general-category candidates for Science Mistress posts were also alleged to lack the prescribed qualification.Charges under Sections 120-B, 420, 467, 468 and 471 of the IPC and Sections 13(1)(d) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act were framed against the accused, who pleaded not guilty and claimed trial.BOX | What the court heldThe court convicted Balwant Singh under Section 420 IPC and Section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, while acquitting him of charges under Sections 467, 468, 471 and 120-B IPC.He was sentenced to two years’ rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs 5,000 under each of the two convicted offences. A further one month’s RI was ordered in default of payment of the fine in the Section 420 case.Former PSSSB chairman retired Brigadier Charanjeev Singh Harika and computer agency proprietor Gurpal Singh were acquitted of all charges.
