Candidates sit in their undergarments in a field as they take an Army exam in Muzaffarpur. AFP

Patna/New Delhi, March 1

Amid a controversy over candidates being asked to strip down to their underwear for an Army exam in Bihar, the Union Government today sought a report from the Army Chief while the Patna High Court directed the Ministry of Defence to give a reply by April 5.Defending the bare body recruitment test, Director (Recruitment), Army Regional Office (ARO), in Muzaffarpur Col VS Godra said it was a preventive measure against cheating. Pictures showed candidates, dressed only in their underwear, cross-legged at Chakkar Maidan, an open ground in Muzaffarpur, 100 km from Patna, taking a written test in the hope of making it to the Army. The test, which was taken by 1,159 candidates, was conducted by the ARO Army Recruitment for various posts at different levels.On the basis of photos in some newspapers, lawyer Deenu Kumar filed a PIL on Monday. A Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Iqbal Ahmad Ansari and Justice Chakradhari Saran Singh converted it into a writ and ordered the Defence Ministry today to reply by April 5. Col Godra said because of the measures taken, no complaint of smuggling of phones and chits inside the exam venue were reported. — PTI

Army HQ takes ‘note’

• Taking ‘serious note’ of the incident, the Army Headquarters issued fresh directives to ensure that the exams are conducted in a manner that guarantees fairness
• A controversy erupted after pictures showed candidates, dressed in their underwear, taking an Army test in an open ground in Muzaffarpur, Bihar
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