UPSC Turns Down Arunachal Govt’s Plea To Conduct Recruitment Exams In State

The Arunachal Pradesh government requested the UPSC to conduct examinations for the Group A and Group B posts in the state, as per state recruitment policies until the reconstitution of APPSC.

UPSC Rejects Arunachal Govt's Plea to Conduct Recruitment Exams (Representational Image)

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In a setback to the Arunachal Pradesh government, the Union Public Service Commission has rejected the state government’s request to conduct the recruitment exams for Group A and Group B posts in the state. An official was reportedly saying the same was news agency PTI. Earlier, the Arunachal Pradesh government requested the UPSC to conduct examinations for the Group A and Group B posts in the state, as per the recruitment policies of the state, until the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) is reconstituted and made operational. 

In its response to the Arunachal Pradesh government’s plea, the UPSC wrote a letter to the state chief secretary stating that such requests can’t be taken forward when a duly constituted public service commission is functioning in the state.

Notably, the APPSC has been on the radar recently for the paper leak gate in the Assistant Engineer (Civil) exam conducted by the commission. APPSC Chairman Nipo Nabam and all members of the commission, except one, have already resigned following the paper leak scam. 

In its letter to the state government, the UPSC also underlined that the state commission is still functioning, although with a single member. The principle of lay stipulates that a Constitutional/Statutory provision casting a duty on a designated authority has to be discharged only by that concerned authority and none else.

Following increased demands from the All Nyishi Students Union (ANSU) and Pan Arunachal Joint Steering Committee (PAJSC), the Arunachal pradesh government wrote to the apex commission UPSC to conduct the examination. 

The alleged paper leak in the Assistant Engineer (Civil) examination surfaced following a police complaint filed by a candidate. The exam was conducted on August 26 and 27 last year, and over 400 candidates appeared for the exam. 

In wake of the paper leak matter, the state government handed over the case to the CBI. The case was previously investigated by the Arunachal Pradesh Police and its Special Investigation Cell. Arunachal Pradesh state reforms secretary Ajay Chagti was reported saying by PTI that among the 41 employees allegedly involved in the scam, 19 were terminated while the remaining 41 were facing disciplinary actions against them. 

On revamping the APPSC, the state secretary said that the draft bill for framing the Arunachal Pradesh Public Examination (Measures for Prevention of Unfair Means in Recruitment) Act has been uploaded on its official website inviting comments and suggestions from people. 

(With inputs from PTI)