india

Updated: Mar 09, 2019 23:25 IST

The Opposition in Assam has sought a CBI probe into alleged irregularities in recruitment for around 950 jobs in the state’s Panchayat and Rural Development Department a day after chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal announced a one-man inquiry panel.

Sonowal’s announcement on Friday evening came after allegations that results and appointments were declared despite a pending police probe and many of the selected and appointed were associated with the BJP which leads the state government.

“Taking a suo moto cognizance of the reported controversy, chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal ordered formation of a one man inquiry by Additional Chief Secretary,” a statement by the chief minister’s office said.

Former chief minister Tarun Gogoi demanded a CBI inquiry in the whole recruitment process as local press published names of some selected candidates who they claimed were related to BJP ministers and leaders including Chandra Mohan Patowary and Naba Kumar Doley.

“The irregularities that took place in the P&RD recruitment where supporters & relatives of BJP leaders got selected for jobs defying govt norms exposes CM @sarbanandasonwal’s hollow slogan of zero tolerance on corruption,” Gogoi tweeted on Saturday.

Akhil Gogoi who heads Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti, an influential peasant’s rights body led the charge against the state government. “The results were announced and appointments made defying due process even as a CID inquiry is ongoing,” he said.

“The results were announced on March 5 at 10 pm and appointments were made at 10 am the next day,” he said adding “what was this hurry?”

A top official of the department conceded that there was pressure to complete the recruitment.

According to Naba Kumar Doley, the minister of state (independent) charge of the P&RD department, an examination was held in 2018 for around 950 vacancies in the department.

Amid allegations that the process was not conducted fairly, JB Ekka, principal secretary, P&RD department said he carried out an initial inquiry which “found that question papers had arrived late at three centres in Guwahati.”

According to Doley, subsequently, as allegations of use of mobile phones by some candidate came out, the department ordered a CID probe. He said the department has withheld appointment of candidates from the centres pointed out by the CID in its report.

A report from the CID dated February 7, said “investigation is continuing to trace out more culprits and their connivance” and it found anomalies arising out of “failure of system and administrative lapse” in 18 centres spread over nine districts.

A month earlier in January, appearing in Gauhati High Court in a petition challenging the examination, the Senior Additional Advocate General claimed that irregularity in exams was just confined to one centre in Rangia. The High Court, then lifted the stay order and allowed to proceed with the recruitment.

“The CID said they are continuing with investigations and it is not just confined to one centre,” said Akhil Gogoi.

“Elections are coming and soon the code of conduct will be in place. Why should we hold back the recruitment?” asked Doley. “Is it not possible that two, three applicants who are connected to BJP workers study well and qualify on merit? Do the relatives and family of BJP workers have no right to appear for the exams?”

Patowary, a senior cabinet minister and government spokesperson said he did know if any of his relatives have been selected in the exam, neither did he push for their selection. “We support the one-man inquiry committee,” he said.

Ekka said the inquiry committee will look into appointments and find out if “candidates have been selected on merit or not.”