ES Reporter 

ITANAGAR, Mar 22:  The state government has no authority to declare “Null & Void”  the examination conducted by Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC), reiterated Home Minister Bamang Felix while addressing reporters at the Civil Secretariat on Wednesday.
Briefing about the meeting held with the Pan Arunachal Joint Steering Committee (PAJSC) and the All Nyishi Students Union (ANSU) regarding the assurance given by the state government on the 13-point demands placed by the PAJSC after the public bandh call on February 18 last, the Minister said that the government has already taken major decisions and action as per the assurances.
On the investigation against the Chairman, Secretary, Members, and all other officials of the APPSC from 2014 to 2022, Felix informed that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is already investigating the case and  the state government has already given blanket approval to investigate all the exams conducted by the APPSC from 2014-2022.  "For the immediate constitution of Fast Track Court for the prosecution of the accused involved in the APPSC Paper Leakage scam, the government has already designated the District and Session Court Yupia as Special Fast Track Court on February 22 last," he added.
Felix who is also the Spokesperson of the state government, informed that the Enforcement Directorate has been requested to investigate the cases related to APPSC exams from 2014 onwards and an official letter for the same has been already forwarded on March 10 last. Moreover, the government has also requested the Secretary Justice, Govt. of India to take up Court-monitored probe of the whole episode, he said.
On demands for ‘Null & Void’ of any examination found to be tainted, the Home Minister categorically stated that the state government has no authority to declare any examination conducted by APPSC  as “Null & Void".
" As said earlier,  the government can only recommend to the APPSC  but cannot declare the exams Null & Void," Felix said.
He also stated that on demands of the PAJSC, the proposed Members and Chairman for APPSC were canceled and a new search committee will be formed for the appointments of new Members as well as Chairman.
While referring to the demands of suspension of all the upcoming exams till the completion of the investigation process and endorsing UPSC to conduct the upcoming examination, Felix stated that all the examinations which were scheduled to be conducted by the APPSC were cancelled/postponed immediately after the paper leakage issue came to light. Government of Arunachal Pradesh has requested the UPSC to take up recruitment for various vacant posts of Group A & B as per the recruitment policy of the state vide letter dated March 10 last.
On the inclusion of two members from the aspirants in the preparation of SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) of APPSC, the Minister said as decided, all stakeholders including AAPSU, ANSU and Aspirants may provide necessary inputs to APPSC for the SOP. Moreover on Whistleblower Act, three Members Committee consisting of Addi. Secy. Law, Jt. Secy (Home) DS (Vig) has been constituted to frame Draft Act/Rule, and inputs may be given by all stakeholders, added Felix.
While informing that the state government is working transparently on the APPSC fiasco, Felix stated that even in the case of Miss Mudyang Yabyang, APPSC has been asked to reexamine the case, though it is subjudice. Moreover, all stakeholders are requested to give inputs for streamlining of selection criteria for (Persons with Disabilities) candidates to Secretary, SJETA.
Meanwhile, the Minister also informed that the government is taking action against officials involved in the scam and providing compensation to all the people who were injured during the public bandh.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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