Student bodies flay MPSC's move to hold civil services exam
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 23 2020: Three student bodies have denounced MPSC's move to re-conduct mains examination of the Manipur Civil Services Combined Competitive Exam (MCSCCE) 2016 before completion of the CBI investigation which is underway.

Stating that the said examination was quashed by the High Court of Manipur citing lapses and irregularities on the part of the MPSC, the bodies, Democratic Students Alliance Manipur (DESAM), Apunba Ireipak Manipur Sinpanglup (AIMS) and All Naga Students' Association, Manipur (ANSAM) noted that the CBI is yet to submit its final report to the High Court regarding the irregularities in the conduct of the examination.

Conducting re-examination (mains) before completion of the CBI investigation, would be "namesake and a mockery akin to swimming in the same muddy water" .

Student bodies flay MPSC's move to hold civil services exam

It would also discourage hardworking and sincere aspirants, asserted the bodies.

It may be noted that the MPSC issued a notification on August 14 to re-conduct the mains examination in October-November 2020 .

The student bodies said they are astounded by the fact that the MPSC had issued the notification for reconducting the mains examination when a review petition filed by the Government is pending before the High Court and CBI is yet to complete their investigation.

It is equally "shocking" that the Government, which filed the review petition in the High Court is also very much aware about the ongoing CBI inquiry, but allowed MPSC to go ahead with the examination process.

Asking if the MPSC has taken up all the necessary corrective measures in order to conduct the examination in a fair and transparent manner and gain trust and confidence of the people and the aspirants, the bodies questioned if there is any hidden agenda to protect the guilty officers by disregarding the CBI investigation.

"Why cannot MPSC at least wait until the completion of the CBI enquiry? Is there a power play, which is not visible to the common people of Manipur?" asked the bodies.

The MPSC should not be allowed to conduct any examination until & unless all messes created by it are cleaned up and guilty officers penalized.

Re-examination should be conducted only after the final CBI report lays bare the truth.

No aspirant and officer in the future should go through the mental trauma and uncertainties due to anomalies of the recruiting agency, they said.

Following the verdict that quashed the 2016 examination, 82 successful candidates, who had served for over 2 years in various offices were also terminated and discharged from their posts/duties.

They are being punished for no apparent crime, said the bodies urging the Government to protect the career and service of those found innocent.

The student bodies are also submitting a memorandum tomorrow to Governor Najma Heptulla for her intervention to withhold the August 14 MPSC notification until completion of the CBI investigation, the joint statement said.