Itanagar: In the wake of recent paper leak episode involving the State Public Service Commission (APPSC) that evoked strong protests from jobs aspirants and others, the Arunachal Pradesh Government has decided to hand over the AE (Civil) Mains exam paper leak case to the premier probe agency CBI for “free, fair, impartial and swift” investigation.
This was informed by State Home Minister Bamang Felix, also the Government Spokesperson, during a media briefing at the Civil Secretariat here on Monday.
It may be mentioned that the Itanagar Police has already arrested six persons, including a senior officer of Arunachal Public Service Commission (APPSC) for their alleged involvement in the AE (Civil) Mains Examination 2022 question paper leak case. The recruitment examination was conducted by the APPSC on August 26 and 27 last for filling up of 33 assistant engineer (civil) posts.
Reaffirming that “Government will leave no stones unturned to unearth the truth and no one will be spared and all kinds of findings will be taken with iron fist”, the Government Spokesperson said, “Today we are reiterating that the paper leak matter will be deeply investigated.
Therefore, the Government has decided to recommend the matter of paper leakage to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for free, fair, impartial and swift investigation,” Felix said.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu, while avowing that the State Government will not tolerate any kind of corruption, had said, “Anyone found involved in the incident, irrespective of his or her position or status, will not be spared.” “No one will be allowed to play with the future of youths,” Khandu had said.
Further, the Khandu Government has constituted a high-level inquiry committee, headed by a Principal Secretary-level officer, to probe the paper leak scam. The panel, with Commissioner, Law and Secretary, Administrative Reforms as its two other members, has been asked to submit its report within 15 days.
“We want to tell the people of Arunachal Pradesh that as Chief Minister Pema Khandu has said from Day one when the paper leak issue came into circulation that every involvement, every person who are involved will not be spared.
Even if police have investigated and have gone deep into it, still the Government has decided to further the probe to reveal all the truths whatever is going on in the Public Service Commission,” the Home Minister said.
He also informed that apart from the police, the Special Investigation Cell (SIC), Vigilance is also investigating the case under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Asked about repetition of such cases in APPSC, the Home Minister said that a three-member high power committee has been constituted by the state government to look into the functioning and loopholes of the Commission.
“The government feels that there must be some procedural lapses. The committee will be submitting its report and recommendation with all the SoPs within 15 days. According to that report, we will ensure that the system in the APCS is strengthened to the fullest,” he said.
Felix assured that age relaxation will be considered for the candidates of AE (Civil) examination. “If by the time the examination is conducted, candidates who have crossed the upper age limit will be considered for the examination,” he further added.
Following the paper leak fiasco, the Commission has cancelled the said recruitment exam while conveying that candidates who were admitted to the last recruitment test shall be eligible to take the aforesaid examination, for which fresh date will be notified in due course of time.
