What the hullaballoo is all aboutIJ
JPSC published final result of the 5th Civil Services on February 21 declaring total 269 candidates successful. This brought thousands on streets questioning the Commission’s ‘hurry’ in publishing the results when the matter of over 600 candidates declared disqualified due to erring on OMR sheet filling in Mains exam is pending in the High Court. Also, some alleged about irregularities citing students from one particular coaching institute and subject clearing the exam en masse.
When the controversy inflamedIJ
The charges fuelled further since the Assembly was in session. Members from the JMM, the JVM and the Congress and even from treasury benches went with majority sentiment and disrupted the proceedings for nearly four days. The Opposition questioned intention behind lowering number of vacancies and ‘outsiders’ flooding-in along with the issues highlighted by the candidates.
What went wrong time to timeIJ
Major controversy was about reducing seats by five for police services from originally 41. Also, the Commission rejected over 600 candidates for reportedly filling OMR sheet wrongly, the act many believed, was uncalled for. lastly, the JPSC left three positions reserved for differently able unfilled while recommending 269 candidates against 272.
Recent controversy that is boiling the potIJ
Claims about ‘extraordinary’ number of candidates with Anthropology and those hailing not from Jharkhand clearing the final exam caught attention. Some successful having close relation with some top bureaucrats of the State also figured.
What has been the Government’s standIJ
The Government clarified that reduction in vacancy was the course correction since the Home Department lately realised that five seats are of backlog and cannot be filled by regular exam. It also made clear that the said requisition was sent to the JPSC when the JMM was in power, i.e. 2013. Claims about hand of any particular coaching institute could not hold water. Any malafide can’t be established where not more coaching institutes are here in operation and also tall claims often made by coaching institutes for commercial gains.
What does JPSC say over the allegationsIJ
JPSC put facts suggesting total 71 candidates got selected with Anthropology whereas 158 have passed taking lSW, 53 of History and 57 of Geography. As far as seats for General or reserved category candidates are concerned, last time seats for General were lesser than the reserved ones. Vacancies are decided as per the roster clearance which went up this time for unreserved. Out of total 269 candidates declared successful, total 164 are from General category and 105 from ST, SC, OBC-I and II.
On insider-outsider issue, the Commission snubbed the claim suggesting that against total 269 recommendations made finally, 201 candidates belong to Jharkhand. All the reserved category candidates are from the State along with 47 others who have figured into General list due to their good show.
And, the statutory positionIJ
As per well defined guideline, no one on regional basis can be barred from appearing in the examination for gazetted posts. legal opinions say that Government of the day cannot interfere with the functioning of the Commission- a constitutional body- but the aggrieved parties can seek refuse of the judiciary.
What nowIJ
The Government carved out an Advisory Committee comprising Saryu Roy, Alamgir Alam, Radha Krishna Kishore, Stephen Marandi, Pradeep Yadav and Raj Kishore Mahto. But term of reference for the panel is to review the examination system of JPSC as well as of Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission in place for various posts and report within 15 days. Nothing specific is there about the 5th Civil Services and the alleged anomalies. Some of the panel members have even expressed dissatisfaction over it and threatened to boycott the meeting.