All's not well in APSC examition branch!

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Jan 18: As allegations go, all is not well within the examition branch of the Assam Public Service Commission (ACS) headed by an ACS officer.

Following agitations and protests by different organizations against the results of CCE (Mains) Examitions, 2013, the State Government transferred the then Principal Controller of Examition and posted a deputy secretary-level officer – Bharat Bhusan Dev Choudhury as Principal Controller of examition in July, 2015. As per rules regulating posting and appointment of Principal Controller of examition of APSC, a senior grade ACS officer at the level of joint secretary is eligible. However, the Personnel Department, Assam posted Kamrup(M) ADC Dev Choudhury, who was not eligible for holding the post. When that illegality surfaced, public complaints filed to Additiol Chief Secretary, Personnel Department, SC Das who transferred Dev Choudhury (in the meantime promoted) and posted as Joint Secretary, Cooperation Department. However, Dev Choudhury did not join the new posting and continued as Principal Controller of examition on the strength of a modified government order.

There is an allegation that Dev Choudhury is closely connected with a coaching centre – ‘Toppers Point’  — at Ulubari in the city coaching participants of CCE, Assam. He also teaches students and takes classes in that coaching centre, besides being involved in publication of guidebooks for CCE and was one of the editors of guidebook on ‘General Studies for ACS, Prelimiry Examition, 2015’ published by Chandra Prakash, Guwahati.

Circles concerned think that there is every reason to doubt that when the Principal Controller of CCE Examition, who conducts all APSC examitions, is directly involved in a coaching centre as well as publication of Guidebooks on CCE candidates enrolled with the particular coaching centre reader of the particular book would get advantage over others. Thus, circles concerned feel, a Principal Controller of APSC examition patronizing such institutions/ publications by using his official position is ‘objectioble and against free-and-fair selection’ of candidates.

Ensuring free-and-fair selection through competition is the basic responsibility enjoined upon the Commission. It is unfortute that sometimes PSCs of different state governments remain hit headlines for their failure in discharging their basic responsibility owing to different reasons. The APSC is no exception in this regard, and the recent controversies largely publicized in electronic and print media following publication of results of CCE, 2013 in May, 2015 is the glaring examples. Undoubtedly this has significantly influenced minds of young generations aspiring for state services and affected their confidence  to a great extent towards the Commission, irrespective of whether the allegations are true or not. Since a number of recruitment, including in the premiere state services, are under process now, it is high time the Commission regained public confidence by maintaining its independent and impartial character.

The circles concerned draw the attention of the state government in the matter so as to ensure free-and-fair conduct of selection by the APSC in the interest of the common people.