Primary teachers recruitment fiasco De-categorisation norms flouted
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 23 2011:
The High Powered Committee constituted by the State Government to look into the controversy surrounding the DPC conducted in connection with selection of Primary Teachers for appointment under the School Education Department has found out that de-categorisation norms of the reservation have not been respected at the time of preparing the merit list.
Disclosing this to The Sangai Express, a highly placed source said a serious lapse has been detected in the DPC conducted for recruitment of over 1000 Primary teachers under the School Education Department as the reservation norms with regard to de-categorisation of the candidates have not been adhered at the time of preparing the merit list.
In the course of its investigation, the High Powered Committee led by Chief Secretary as chairman came across that the DPC chaired by School Education Director did not follow the reservation norms of including candidates from reserved categories in the unreserved category if they scored better marks, at the time of preparing the merit list.
There were around 200 such cases of candidates who, despite belonging to the reserved categories, should have been included in the unserved category.
For instance, if an ST or SC candidate secured marks more than the prescribed marks for these reserved categories, then their names should be counted among the unreserved category (General).
But in the merit list of the DPC, the candidates have been selected against their irrespective categories, that is, General candidates in General category only, ST and SC candidates against the reserved seats for ST and SC respectively.
As the candidates in reserved seats who secured better marks have been placed in their respective reserved categories, the opportunity for selection of more number of meritorious candidates in place of those who secure less marks has been lost.
In addition to non-adherence to the de-categorisation norms of the reservation, from the recording of the statements of the DPC members, which were taken separately, the High Powered Committee has pointed to the possibility of manipulation in preparing the merit list of the DPC, the source further disclosed.
After the submission of report of the High Powered Committee to the Govt, the State Cabinet, after several rounds of discussion on the issue, had even recommended to seek the comments of the Law Department.
Subsequently, the State Government also entrusted a Review Committee headed by School Education Director as the chairman to look into the matter.
However, the Review Committee is yet to submit its report to the Government.
Amid all these detection of various irregularities in the conduct of the DPC, the State Government took a decision to the effect of appointing all the candidates selected in the DPC on contract basis for 11 months.
With the approval of the State Cabinet, the decision of the State Government has been enforced but here too the provisions of the Compulsory Notification Act of the Employment Exchange of the Central Government has been violated.
In accordance to this Act, the duration of the contract appointment should be just 89 days, the source pointed out.