An allegation of irregularities in the excise constable exam has come to the fore recently. Dinabandhu Mallick, a candidate for the excise constable recruitment examination of Katarmal village under Pattamundai police limits, has leveled the allegation after he obtained vital information through RTI Act. According to Mallick, nepotism and corruption were adopted to provide jobs to the near and dear ones of the influential officials or to the persons who paid well.
The Odisha Sub-ordinate Staff Selection Commission (OSSSC) had published an advertisement for filling 256 excise constable posts.13,347 applicants submitted their applications on-line. Out of them 2,227 candidates qualified in the physical test and later sat for a written test. The physical and written examinations were organised from October 25, 2014 to March 15 last all over the State. The result was published on April16 in which 255 candidates were selected for jobs finally.
Mallick said as per the RTI information, many candidates failed to get their names in the merit list despite securing more marks than the cut-off category wise. Some SEBC and unreserved candidates managed to get into the merit list in reserved category. Even, a few who failed to qualify physical test were in the merit list.
Mallick said he along with a few others have filed a petition before the Directorate of Vigilance, SP of Vigilance , the PIO OSSSC and at the State Administrative Tribunal recently, alleging that irregularities were made in the excise constable recruitment and seeking justice. Meanwhile, the Odisha Administrative Tribunal on Wednesday issued an interim order in this regard.