Lucknow: A major recruitment scam linked to the 2016 hiring process in Uttar Pradesh’s Health Department has come to light, raising serious concerns over transparency and verification mechanisms in government appointments.
Preliminary findings have revealed that multiple individuals have allegedly been working in different districts for years under identical names and similar personal details while drawing government salaries.
Identity Duplication and Fraudulent Postings
The controversy is related to the recruitment of Dark Room Assistants in the state health department. Investigators suspect that fake documents, manipulated birth records and tampered service details were used to secure appointments fraudulently. In some of the most shocking cases, four to six individuals were allegedly found working under the same identity in different districts.
According to available information, the Uttar Pradesh Subordinate Services Selection Commission initiated the recruitment process for 355 Dark Room Assistant posts in 2015. After the written examination and interview process, the list of selected candidates was forwarded to the Directorate General of Health Services, following which appointment letters were issued in 2016.
Portal Verification Drives and Name Matching
The alleged irregularities surfaced during a recent verification exercise involving recruitment lists, departmental records and data available on the state’s Human Resource Management portal. During scrutiny, officials reportedly found that six individuals were working under the name “Sudhir Kumar” in different districts of the state. All of them had the same father’s name, Jai Prakash, but were posted in separate districts including Ballia, Barabanki, Etawah, Azamgarh and Shahjahanpur.
Similarly, four individuals were found working under the name “Anshul Kumar,” while three employees were allegedly serving under the name “Manoj Singh.” Several other cases involving duplicate identities also came to light during the investigation. Authorities suspect that forged documents and minor alterations in records were used to manipulate the recruitment process.
Investigators also found discrepancies in the Human Resource Management System records. Although the names and parental details matched the original recruitment list, the employees had different EHRMS IDs, salary account details and joining dates. Officials believe this indicates large-scale manipulation and possible collusion within the system.
Financial Leakages and Sanctioned Volume Discrepancies
Sources said that an initial examination of 36 names revealed serious irregularities in at least 15 cases. Authorities now suspect that if a statewide verification is conducted, the number of illegal appointments could be significantly higher. There are concerns that more than 500 individuals may actually be working against the originally sanctioned 337 appointments.
The role of the Directorate General of Health Services and district-level offices has also come under scrutiny. Questions are being raised over how duplicate appointments continued for years without proper document verification or departmental audits. Officials fear that the scam may have caused losses worth crores of rupees to the state exchequer.
Investigative Inquiries and Directory Scrutiny
Additional Chief Secretary, Medical and Health, Amit Kumar Ghosh stated that the matter is serious and a detailed inquiry will be conducted if irregular appointments are confirmed. He indicated that FIRs would be registered against all those found responsible, including employees and officials involved in the alleged fraud.
Investigating agencies are now examining recruitment records, appointment letters, salary accounts, service books and digital data linked to the appointments. Authorities are also trying to determine whether forged identity documents, fake certificates and internal collusion were used to influence the recruitment process.
The case once again highlights how weaknesses in document verification and digital monitoring systems can be exploited in government recruitment processes. Officials said efforts are underway to uncover the entire network and identify everyone responsible for the alleged scam.
