MPSC draws flak '14,000 outsiders apply for State Civil Service exam'
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 13 2016 : The Joint Students Co-Ordination Com-mittee (JSCC) is set to picket the office of Manipur Public Service Commission (MPSC) from February 21 if certain norms with respect to Manipur Civil Service Combined Competitive examination is not rectified by February 20 .

MPSC is planning to hold Manipur Civil Service Combined Competitive preliminary examination to fill up 82 different posts on February 28 .

Speaking to reporters at the office of Students Union of Kangleipak (SUK), JSCC convenor Jayenta Khuman said that of the 35,000 total aspirants who have submitted online application for the examination, over 14,000 are 'outsiders'.

He said that MPSC issued an advertisement for the examination to fill up 13 Mani- pur Civil Service Grade-II, 16 Manipur Police Service, 48 Sub-Deputy Collectors, four Secretariat Service/Section Officers and one Election Officer posts on December 29 last year.

Unlike the State Public Commissions of neighbouring States, MPSC mentioned in the advertisement that every Indian citizen is eligible for the examination due to which around 14,000 outsiders have applied online for the examination, Jayenta claimed.

In Nagaland, he said, 80 per cent of the vacancies are reserved for the candidates belonging to various indigenous communities of Naga- land under a strict guideline of the State Personnel and Administrative Reforms Department.

Similarly in Mizoram, the eligibility criteria cited in the advertisement of Mizoram Public Service Commission says that the applicant must be a citizen of India as defined in Article 5-7 of the Constitution and he/she must be a permanent resident of Mizoram.

Candidates whose parents or any of their ancestors in the direct lineage are the permanent residents of the State with proper documentary proof like enrolment in electoral roll and birth of certificate will also be eligible.

The Mizoram Public Service Commission's advertise- ment also mentioned that the applicant must compulsorily have the working knowledge of Mizo language, Jayenta said.

He threatened to boycott the examination if MPSC does not include similar norms for the State Civil Services examination as well by February 20 .

The online admit cards issued by MPSC would not be accepted until the rectifications are made, he said.

The committee is ready to launch intense agitations to save the future of the State students if this demand is not fulfilled, he said.

He opined that MPSC is a State Constitutional body and it does not need to function like UPSC.

Alleging that it is not the first time that MPSC is giving same privilege to outsiders like State natives, Jayenta said that it is illogical to appoint the candidates who does not have any affinity with the language, environment and culture of Manipur as State civil servants.

Meanwhile, a JAC has been formed regarding the matter and submitted a memorandum on the issue to Education Minister M Okendra this evening.

JAC convener Longjam Tony Angom said that a large number of outsiders have submitted online applications as MPSC has cited in the eligibility criteria that every Indian citizen may apply for the post.

He appealed to the authority concerned and MPSC to seriously look into the matter and change the norms for the applicants belonging to other States.

He also demanded MPSC not to conduct the examination until the norms are rectified.

He also urged the ruling and Opposition parties to discuss the matter in the upcoming Assembly session considering the career of the future generation of the indigenous people.

The JAC would stage a democratic agitation in front of MPSC office from 11 am to 2 pm on February 16, he said.

The agitation would be intensified from February 18 if the JAC does not a receive positive response by February 18.The JAC would boycott the examination if the Government and MPSC remain silent on the issue.

The memorandum submitted to the Education Minister said that it has come to the knowledge of the local aspirants of MCSCCE 2015-16 that around 35000 have applied for Manipur Combined Civil Services preliminary examination and around 12000 applicants are non-domiciles to the State.

As the eligibility criteria issued by MPSC allowed every Indian citizen to apply for the examination, there is need to issue a corrigendum by MPSC regarding the inclusion of some mandatory points in the eligibility criteria on or before February 18, the memorandum added.

All the aspirants must be able to read, write and speak Manipuri language (State language) or proficient in any of the tribal dialects (languages) of Manipur recognised by BOSEM.

The aspirant must be a local (Manipur) employment exchange card holder or he/she must be enrolled in the voter list of Manipur.

The memorandum further said that it is to the knowledge that similar criteria are currently being used by various other State public service commissions.

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