Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Sunday assured a fast-track probe into the alleged irregularities in the examination conducted by the Arunachal Pradesh Staff Selection Board (APSSB).
The assurance comes a day after a suspicious optical mark recognition (OMR) sheet bearing roll number 2025546 was widely circulated in social media and for which the APSSB has been receiving criticism.
As per the results of the exams of the lower divisional clerk, junior secretariat assistant etc which were published on the APSSB’s website on Friday, the candidate with the aforementioned roll number has been shortlisted for the skill test.
However, if one goes through the yet to be verified OMR sheet, it suggests that the candidate had left the answer sheet blank.
“I have directed chief secretary to fast-track probe into alleged irregularities in the exam conducted by APSSB whose results were shortlisted for skill test,” Khandu said.
“I assure the people of Arunachal for speedy justice and those involved won’t be spared no matter how influential they may be,” the Arunachal CM added.
“No one can play with the future of our youths,” he asserted.
“Those trying to trample with the rights of our people have no other place but behind bars,” he said.
“An impartial investigation will be carried out leaving no stone unturned,” the chief minister added.
Arunachal CM Khandu further said that “creation of APSSB was the biggest reform brought by his government for bringing transparency in the recruitment process and for our goal for a ‘progressive Arunachal’.”
Khandu’s government had passed the Arunachal Pradesh Staff Selection Board Bill for the creation of the APSSB in September 2018.
The APSSB conducts examinations and selects candidates for appointment to the subordinate services/Group C posts in the government departments, organisations and autonomous bodies established and constituted by the government.
Meanwhile, the All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) termed the irregularities as a “disturbing development”.
The Union has appealed the special investigation cell of the state police to immediately go into the crux of the whole fiasco in a time-bound manner so that common masses are able to know the truth behind the entire episode.
“Exemplary punishment should be given to the perpetrators of the crime,” AAPSU general secretary Tobom Dai said in a statement on Sunday evening.
“The incident has forsaken the very foundation of fair play as envisaged by the present state government in recruiting genuine talent and has once again let loose
the wagging tails about corruption in recruiting commission as seen in the past,” Dai added.