MPSC promises free and fair exams
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 26 2020:
The Manipur Public Service Commission (MPSC) has assured to conduct every recruitment exam in a free and fair manner.
MPSC in a statement said that it appears that the decision of MPSC to hold MCSCC (Main) Examination, 2016 afresh has been misunderstood which is unfortunate.
It may be informed that the MCSCC (Main) Examination, 2016 has been quashed by the High Court of Manipur on October 18, 2019 with the direction to the MPSC to conduct the said examination afresh.
CBI was directed to investigate the conduct of the MCSCC Examination, 2016 .
MPSC had filed an SLP to the Supreme Court challenging the said order.
However, the Supreme Court had declined to grant relief and had directed MPSC to hold the Main examination as early as possible implying that the examination is only for those 1130 candidates who were selected in the MCSCC (Preliminary) Examination, 2016, it said.
The CBl has started their enquiry with seizures of required documents and materials from MPSC, said the Commission in a statement and added that the CBI enquiry is still on but the Supreme Court order has delinked the holding of examination from the enquiry.
MPSC has been trying to finalize the scheme of examination and syllabus with the State Government which culminated on May 28, 2020 with the latter informing the former to continue with the previous scheme and syllabus.
MPSC said they have taken up measures to improve fairness and transparency while incorporating all the directives of the High Court.
"New technologies like On-Screen Evaluation System, Bar Coding of Answer Papers, etc are now added for future examinations.
We now have a Controller of Examinations and Joint Controller of Examinations from MCS Cadre who are working solely on conduct of examinations and examination related reforms.
"The COVID-19 pandemic has put a halt on conduct of examinations by MPSC for some time but we were also aware that the MCSCC(Main) Examination 2016 has to be conducted afresh at the earliest in order to avoid legal complications" .
Recently, the Supreme Court has given decisions in favour of holding of various examinations like National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) .
Besides, UPSC & SSC are now going to conduct examinations all over India including Manipur.
The National Defence Academy & Naval Academy Entrance Examination 2020 will be conducted on September 6, 2020 .
"We are also aware that nine months have lapsed since the Supreme Court's order.
A full Commission meeting held on August 14, 2020 deliberated and took a conscious decision on holding the examination in October-November, 2020 to avoid legal complicacies and also in the interest of the State and the aspirants," MPSC.
This was notified in print and electronic media for public awareness.
MPSC said they have also adopted applicable SoPs for COVID-19 prevention as part of their protocols to be observed while conducting examinations.
Stating that there appears to be some misgivings with regards to the ability of the MPSC to hold examinations in a free and fair manner, MPSC further said "MPSC would like to mention that the MCSCC(Main) Examination, 2016 should not be the sole yardstick to judge our ability to conduct examinations.
The very fact that MPSC has successfully conducted a number of examinations since 2016 with no major turbulence including examinations for recruitment of Medical Officers, Dental Surgeons, Engineers, etc for the State which proves by itself the ability and competency of the MPSC in conducting recruitment examinations for the State.
"MPSC would like to place before the public and the candidates who are to appear in the MCSCC (Main) Examination, 2016 to be held afresh that we will be conducting a fair and transparent examination.
"MPSC will ensure fairness and level the playing field for every candidate in every recruitment," it added.