Kailali — The recruitment process for Staff Nurse and Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) positions at Seti Provincial Hospital has come under controversy following allegations that exam question papers were leaked before the test.
The hospital conducted written examinations for both positions on Saturday, Chaitra 7. The Staff Nurse exam began at 9:00 AM, while the ANM exam was scheduled for 3:00 PM. However, claims have surfaced that the question papers, including marked answers, were circulated even before the exams commenced.
According to sources, the ANM exam, conducted for 18 vacancies, had its question paper leaked prior to the scheduled time in the afternoon.
Meanwhile, the coordinator of the examination committee and Medical Superintendent of the hospital, Dr. Hemraj Pandey, has been unreachable. Citing illness, he handed over responsibilities to Acting Medical Superintendent Dr. Khagendra Bhatt on Sunday. Dr. Bhatt stated that he has no information regarding the alleged leak.
However, Dan Bahadur Sunar, a member of the examination committee and legal officer at the Ministry of Social Development of Sudurpashchim Province, has denied the allegations. He claimed that the exam was conducted in a completely fair manner and dismissed the leak claims as baseless.
He further stated that the examination standards were no less than those of the Public Service Commission and suggested that such rumors may have been spread due to vested interests.
Seti Provincial Hospital had conducted the exam to fill 21 Staff Nurse positions, with 39 candidates passing the written test. Interviews are scheduled to begin from the morning of Chaitra 12.
Similarly, for the 18 ANM positions, 28 candidates passed the written exam. Their interviews are set to be held from 10:00 AM on Chaitra 18, according to the hospital.