Hold re-exam after CBI probe: ATSUM
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 29 2020:
The All Tribal Students' Union Manipur (ATSUM) today said that the MCSCCE 2016 re-exam should not be conducted until and unless the CBI probe into the case is duly completed and the culprits involved in mal-practices are befittingly punished.
ATSUM in a statement said they are perturbed at the lopsided clarification made by the Secretary of the MPSC pertaining to the Manipur Civil Services Combined Competitive Examination (MCSCCE), 2016 issued in print media on August 26, and wants to enlighten the fiasco to the public in order to dispel certain doubts arising out of mudslinging between aggrieved parties and MPSC.
ATSUM said, as a constitutional body, MPSC was expected by many aspirants that the exam would be free and fair and that all the procedures it adopted would be able to withstand the tests of even the most rigorous scrutiny of media and Courts.
Unfortunately, only after two years and a half of appointment, the main exam was quashed by the High Court of Manipur leaving the successful candidates in distress.
People were made to understand that there were lapses and irregularities in the conduct of the exam.
As such, with the intervention of the High Court, CBI investigation was initiated with the hope that something substantial will come out of it; that, the past rumours of corruption, nepotism and favouritism in MPSC will be finally brought to light; and, the culprits punished.
CBI is still conducting an investigation, and it needs to be completed unhindered to unearth all misdeeds.
However, much to the shock of the people, MPSC announced on August 14 that it would be re-conducting the main exam soon, it continued.
There is a review petition in the High Court about the enquiry committee that looked into the lapses and irregularities of MCSCCE 2016 which were instituted by the High Court.
The review pertains to the possibility of conflict of interest in the constitution of such a committee.
The candidates and public deserve a clear answer if their children were candidates in the same exam and if so, why the esteemed committee did not make any declaration to this regard when it was constituted as the reports of the committee became the basis of the judgement for squashing the said exam, ATSUM questioned.
The matter is still pending before the High Court.
Therefore, MPSC is duty bound to cooperate with the Court and see that natural justice is upheld.
ATSUM said they are not against holding of examination as and when all lapses and irregularities are cleared including CBI enquiry and review petition filed at the High Court.
It is worth mentioning here that the Supreme Court does not give any timeline for holding of examinations afresh and as such, there is no rationality in holding examinations urgently.
MPSC should not cherry pick only parts of the judgement to suit their interest.
Moreover, COVID-19 is on the rise all over the world, and Manipur is no exception.
This exam is not like NEET or JEE which can be completed in a single sitting.
It runs for over 15-20 days (as per last MCSCCE, 2016) and a total of 24 hours for each student (total 8 papers of 3 hours each) .
It also requires deep concentration and full use of the faculties of brain and body.
Each student will be asked to sit for 4 days/24 hours with masks or PPEs if required, and with a perpetual anxiety that they could be infected anytime.
As such, it will not be wise to conduct the exam in view of the pandemic, ATSUM said.
It is an undisputed fact that none of the lapses and irregularities which have been observed in the conduct of MCSCCE 2016 are attributable to the successful candidates.
And thus, conducting examinations before clearing the disorder will attract more legal complications in future, it added.
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