By IANS,
Ranchi : A number of rules were flouted while appointing administrative officers through Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) examinations, an official of the state’s vigilance bureau said.
“The norms in all the three JPSC examinations held till now were violated. Gross irregularities have been found,” the official told IANS requesting anonymity.
Jharkhand has conducted three examinations to appoint its administrative officers. But evidence collected by vigilance authorities shows that norms were violated in each, with the aim of favouring relatives of politicians and JPSC officials.
“As per the norms of the central government or any state public service commission, candidates ten times the number of vacancies have to be selected in the preliminary exams, and three times in the mains,” the official explained.
For example, to fill a vacancy of ten posts, 100 candidates have to be selected in the first round. In the main exams, 30 candidates out of the selected 100 have to be called for interviews.
But this rule was flouted each time the state held tne examination to favour candidates who failed to secure even passing marks in the exams. These candidates later cleared the interviews, the official said.
In first JPSC examination held in 2004-05, only 640 candidates should have been passed in the first round. The JPSC, however, passed 900 candidates.
Similarly, in the mains exam, 192 candidates should have been passed, against the final number of 640.
“It seems the norms were violated to favour certain candidates,” the official said.
The probe in the second JPSC examinations, held in 2007-08, too is almost complete and the Vigilance Bureau will submit its report to the state government after getting the forensic lab reports of answer sheets.
A total of 172 administrative officers were appointed in the exam. Much hue and cry was made over the appointments, and the vigilance probe was ordered last year. The state government was also forced to sack 37 officers early this year, after the preliminary probe report was submitted.