Babulal Kataras Tenure Ends While Imprisoned Amid Paper Leak Scandal
Babulal Kataras term as an RPSC member concludes while in jail over a recruitment exam paper leak.
Jaipur, October 15 (Daily Kiran) : Babulal Katara, a suspended member of the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC), has seen his tenure end while still incarcerated. He was imprisoned in connection with a paper leak scandal involving a recruitment examination.
The state government had forwarded the case to the President of India, seeking Katara’s removal from his position. However, no decision was reached before the conclusion of his term.
With Katara’s departure, the number of vacant positions within the RPSC has now risen to four. The Special Operations Group (SOG) arrested Katara, along with a dismissed driver from the commission, Gopal Singh, and another individual, Vijay Katara, on April 18, 2023, for their involvement in the leak of the ‘Senior Teacher Recruitment Exam 2022’ paper.
In January 2024, then-Governor Kalraj Mishra suspended Katara. Investigators later linked him to another paper leak case concerning the ‘Police Sub-Inspector Recruitment Exam 2021.’
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has also been gathering information regarding his assets. Under constitutional rules related to the RPSC, the President can remove a commission member based on specific criteria and established procedures, including disqualification or incapacity, whether physical or mental.
If a member faces allegations of misconduct, the Constitution provides for an investigation by the Supreme Court under Article 317. The state government recommended Katara’s removal to the President; however, this process was not completed before his term ended, and no removal order was issued.
Since June, the RPSC has been without a permanent chairperson. Currently, Lieutenant Colonel Kesari Singh is serving as the acting chairperson. Other members include Professor Ayub Khan, Hemant Priyadarshi, Professor Deepak Sharma, Professor Sushil Bisoo, and Professor Santosh Anand. Katara’s exit raises concerns about the commission’s administrative capacity and the progress of pending recruitment matters.
