STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: The State government has constituted a one-man commission to not only probe the infamous cash-for-job scam in APSC (Assam Public Service commission) but also suggest measures for elimination of anomalies and all kinds of malpractices. Above all, the panel will study the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for entry in the APSC strong room, access to stocked answer scripts and to ascertain whether there is need for amendments in the existing SOP to eradicate any scope for doubts. The results of that controversial APSC examination were declared on May 12, 2015.
Following a directive from the Gauhati High Court, the Home and Political Department, Government of Assam, formed the One Man Commission “In exercise of the powers conferred under the Section 3 of the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952”. The inquiry panel is being headed by Justice (retd) BK Sharma, retired Judge of Gauhati High Court.
The Dibrugarh Police has already submitted its final charge sheet on the case, and the trial is going on in the Court of the Special Judge, Assam, located at Guwahati. The Dibrugarh Police is prepared to file additional charge sheets if required, informed sources.
Among those arrested in the ongoing investigation include the then chairman of APSC Rakesh Paul, a few other top officials and employees of APSC besides 70 accused personnel of the Assam Civil Services (ACS), Assam Police Service (APS), and Allied Services. However, four others accused in the scam are still absconding.
The probe panel will carry out inquiry into the entire of the candidates-selection process and the roles of APSC Chairman and other Members. It will also look into the system followed by APSC for setting of questions for conducting various examinations including the qualifications, integrity and competency of the question setters and whether the question setters are properly trained and briefed by the Commission. Besides probing the modalities for selection of question setters, the panel will inquire whether the APSC prepares panel of question setters. Further, the panel would also suggest improvement in the mode of selection and preparation of the panel of dedicated question setters.
Another term of reference of the one man commission is to inquire into the modalities adopted by the APSC for moderation of questions set for various written examinations, and whether clear distinction and demarcation are there between the question setters and the moderators.
Taking into consideration the incidents in the past where due to ambiguity in answer keys, corrective measures had to be taken by the APSC, the one man probe commission will have to ascertain the fault on the part of question setters and also suggest ways to eradicate any future possibilities of such situations.
The panel will also study the system followed by the APSC for holding the viva- voce (interview) of the candidates; marking pattern under the existing rules and whether proper transparency is maintained during the viva-voce/interview of the candidates.
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