Itanagar: In a landmark decision, the Arunachal Pradesh Cabinet on Thursday recommended to invoke the provisions of Article 317 for the removal and suspension of the members of the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC), in a bid to overhaul the apex recruiting agency of the state government.
Soon after the Cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Pema Khandu dashed to the Raj Bhavan and handed over the Cabinet’s recommendation to Governor Brig (Retd) Dr BD Mishra, official sources said.
This ‘development’ came in the wake of a paper leak episode involving the APPSC that came into the limelight last month and also at a time when the officials of the premier investigation agency, CBI, were camping in Itanagar.
Taking to the micro-blogging site Twitter, Chief Minister Khandu wrote: “Handed over the recommendation of Cabinet to Hon Governor Brig(Dr) BD Mishra Ji (Retd) to invoke provisions of Article 317 to remove Members of APPSC. We’re determined to take the process of cleansing of APPSC to its logical conclusion in the larger interests of our youths and state.”
The Chief Minister said that the government, from day one, has made its intentions very clear for overhauling the State Public Service Commission.
“We are firm to retain and restore the sanctity of Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC). The cabinet has today recommended to initiate the provisions of Article 317 for removal and suspension of four members of APPSC. The State Govt, from day one, has made its intentions very clear for overhauling the entire APPSC,” Khandu tweeted.
The Chief Minister said, following the state government’s recommendation, the CBI has already reached Itanagar and has registered an FIR. It is now in the process of taking up the case soon for investigation.
It may be mentioned that bowing to the mounting pressure from different quarters, the APPSC Chairman Nipo Nabam on October 14 tendered his resignation “on moral ground” and submitted his papers to the Governor.
Nabam quit the top post days after the State Government suspended two senior officers of the APPSC including its Secretary Jayanta Kumar Ray and Joint Secretary cum Controller of Examination Suraj Gurung in connection with the AE (Civil) examination paper leak fiasco.
The said recruitment examination (mains) was conducted by the APPSC on August 27 and 28 last for filling up of 33 Assistant Engineer (Civil) posts.
The case is currently being investigated by the Special Investigation Cell of Arunachal Pradesh Police. So far, 10 persons including the APPSC Deputy Secretary cum Deputy Controller of Examinations Taket Jerang have been arrested.
The police investigation began after an aggrieved candidate filed a police complaint on August 29, alleging that the AE (Civil) exam paper had been leaked.
Meanwhile, the CBI has taken over the investigation into the alleged question paper leak of the assistant engineer exam conducted by the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission on August 26 and 27, officials said on Thursday.
The agency has booked Akhilesh Yadav, a teacher at coaching centre Jeju Institute in Itanagar, and unidentified officials of the service commission in the FIR registered on a reference from the state government.
The Arunachal Police had registered an FIR on September 10 against Yadav and others in the alleged leakage of the examination paper for assistant engineer (civil) recruitment. This was re-registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in accordance with the laid down procedure.
It was alleged by an aspirant that Yadav was in possession of questions for the examination, disclosing leakage of the paper by him in connivance with Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission officials. With agency inputs
