Himachal Govt to Return Rs 4.27 Crore in Fees to Candidates of Cancelled Recruitments

HAMIRPUR (HP): The Himachal Pradesh government has announced that it will refund Rs 4.27 crore in application fees to over 3.41 lakh candidates whose recruitment applications were rendered invalid after the cancellation of recruitment processes across 80 categories initiated by the erstwhile Himachal Pradesh Staff Selection Commission (HPSSC) in 2022, an official said on Thursday.

The recruitment drive was scrapped following allegations of question paper leaks in several recruitment examinations, which led to the dissolution of the HPSSC. The commission has since been replaced by the Himachal Pradesh Rajya Chayan Aayog to oversee future recruitment in the state.

A government spokesperson said the refund will benefit 3,41,742 candidates, providing relief to applicants who had paid examination fees for recruitment processes that were ultimately cancelled. The move is aimed at ensuring fairness to candidates affected by the controversy while reinforcing the government’s commitment to transparent and accountable recruitment practices.