Skeletons tumble out of SI recruitment process
Fake certificates slur casts on 5
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 10 2012: Skeletons have come tumbling out of the recent recruitment process of 72 women Sub Inspectors in Manipur police department with five of the officers recommended under meritorious sports quota found submitting fake an unrecognized championship certificates.

Interestingly the matter came to light after an unsuccessful candidate in the recruitment to the post filed a series of applications with the officials concerned under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

Eminent athlete Laishram Sanatombi Devi (29), who joined the recruitment against the vacancies reserved for meritorious sports, also submitted a memorandum to Governor Gurbachan Jagat with copies forwarding to the Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs demanding cancellation of appointment of the five candidates.

The recruitment process began in 2008 and its results were declared on January 30, 2010 recommending 72 SIs.

A resident of Yairipok area in Thoubal district, Sanatombi bagged various prizes in events like hammer throw and discus throw.

Besides being a National player, she also completed her MA in Education and BEd.

Sanatombi Devi

Smelling foul play in the recruitment process, she filed applications with the departments concerned�Home and Youth Affairs and Sportsunder RTI Act seeking the relevant documents, Sanatombi said in her representation.

Of the four persons recommended for the post under sports quota, she obtained championship certificates of three candidates, she said.

Candidates Aruna Laishram submitted certificate of participation in the 20th senior male and female national Taekwondo championship held in February 2001 in Kolkata while Rajina Begum put up souvenir certificate for participating in the 3rd circle style National Kabadi championship held in Rajasthan in March 2004 .

Nambram Memtu Devi submitted certificate for two different Taekwondo championships held in Imphal in 2002 .

Aruna and Rajina did not participate in the said championships as per lists of players furnished by secretaries of the sports associations concerned of the State while the championship in which Memtu participated is not recognized by the State Government, Sanatombi contended.

Another two candidates � Chanuleima Pangeijam and Thounoujam Rosie Devithoough over aged, have also been found under the upper age relaxation norms reserved for meritorious sportspersons but they submitted fake and unrecognized championship certificates , she added.

Stating that all the five candidates are over-aged and that their sports certificates are null and void, their appointment should be cancelled, Sanatombi demanded.

She demanded to hold an impartial and prompt inquiry into the matter and initiate necessary legal action against the erring officials.

Wahengbam Joykumar, co-convenor of Movement for People's RTI, Manipur under whose initiative Sanatombi sought the RTI, said submission of such fake and unrecognized certificates to join Government jobs has consistently discouraged the career and spirit of true sports persons of the State.

Joykumar, who is also the Executive Director of Human Rights Initiative (HRI), also urged the Government to punish the officials involved in recruiting the five women SIs in violation of laid down norms.