Staffers oppose BoSEM chairman post to Joykumar
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, December 09 2024:
Demanding the government to review appointment of DM College of Science associate professor (Electronics) Akham Joykumar Singh as the chairman of Board of Secondary Education, Manipur (BoSEM) and replace him with a more qualified person, the staff of the Board staged a sit-in protest inside the BoSEM complex at Babupara on Monday morning.
Speaking to media persons on the sidelines of the protest, one of the staff members recounted that Akham Joykumar was appointed as the BoSEM secretary in 2017 and interim chairman in 2018 .
During his tenure (Joykumar) as the interim chairman, the HLSCE results tampering scandal broke out and he was suspended and retransferred to his old/parent department, while an inquiry was instituted against him, recounted the protester, adding that in 2021, he was appointed as chairman in-charge and shortly after as chairman in the same year for a period of three years.
Further stating that retirement age of a BoSEM employee is 60, he pointed out that Akham Joykumar had attained the age of 60 years in February 2022.However, the Recruitment Rules of the Manipur Secondary Education Act, 1972 was amended to increase the retirement age by five more years, which is in violation of the order of the Higher and Technical Education Department, elaborated the staff, along with alleging that Joykumar illicitly appointed some BoSEM employees and misused funds.
As such, entrusting the responsibility as chairman of the BoSEM to a tainted and unscrupulous person cannot be accepted, declared the staff member, while urging the government to review the order and appoint a more competent individual instead.
During the sit-in various slogans were raised denouncing the appointment.
Later, police arrived at the scene and disperse the protesters.
Shortly after, the staff launched a pen down strike, as the BoSEM secretary sent a letter to the Education commissioner to look into the demands of the staff.