ES Reporter 

ITANAGAR, Feb 23: The Guwahati High Court Itanagar Bench today granted default bail to Taket Jerang, the former deputy controller of examination APPSC who is also the prime accused in the question paper leak/ cash for job scam.
The court in its order stated that, after hearing the submissions of the learned counsel of both sides, it is seen that inspite of the lapse of the statutory period, the investigating authority is not in a position to file a Charge-Sheet against the accused or final form of the accused and in the same time, it is seen that the investigating authority also has not filed any objection, though, the time was granted to the concerned authority.
The order also stated that the case may have been taken up by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the first part of January but the fact remains that the accused has been languishing in jail for the last 98 days and till then, failed to furnish the Charge-Sheet and accordingly, considering the entire aspect of the case and the provision under Section 167(2) Cr.P.C. and the present accused is entitled to default bail and accordingly, the accused, Taket Jerang is allowed to go on bail on furnishing a bail bond of Rs.20,000/- with a suitable surety of like amount to the satisfaction of the learned Sessions Judge-cum-Special Judge (Fast Track Court), Yupia.
The Court also directed that, the petitioner shall co-operate in the investigation as and when called/summoned for the investigation, the petitioner shall not hamper/tamper with the evidence of the prosecution witnesses or the investigating agency and shall not leave the territorial jurisdiction of the learned Sessions Judge-cum-Special Judge (Fast Track Court), Yupia, without prior permission.
Former APPSC deputy secretary-cum-deputy controller of examination Taket Jerang  is  one of the prime accused in the APPSC cash-for-job scam, and was arrested  in  September 2022. 

APPSC fiasco: Govt employees oppose demand for 'Null and Void' 

ITANAGAR, Feb 23: Government employees of the several batches directly affected by the demand for null and void, under the banner 'Joint Committee Against Null and Void' today submitted a joint representation to the Chief Secretary registering strong opposition to the demand put forward by PAJSC, which the government has agreed to send to APPSC. 
The government’s consideration of the demand for Null and Void and to forward the matter to the APPSC, when there is an already undergoing investigation, puts a question mark on the job security and integrity of all the affected batches which has immensely demotivated all the innocent and hard-working government employees, the Joint Committee said.
It further appealed to the government and citizens "not to be swayed by the tide of overwhelming public opinion and deprive us of our Fundamental Rights or go against the Rules of Natural Justice which are foundational and fundamental concept of law."
Under the purview of null and void, three Combined Competitive Examinations fall, viz; 2014, 2017 and 2021 besides exams for doctors, teachers, police, engineers, etc., accounting for over 2000 government employees, who have been earnestly rendering public services in various parts of the state, stand to lose their job, severely disrupting the functioning of the government setup. In addition, many of the employees have crossed the upper age limit for appearing for exams, while many are married and have parental responsibilities, which makes their chances of appearing and passing fresh exams, practically impossible, the Joint Committee said.
The only way that justice can be done to all deserving candidates is by allowing the investigation process to complete. Painting entire batches in the same colour would be a travesty of the principles of natural justice. Therefore, it’s pertinent that all measures possible to expedite the process of apprehending the guilty and cleaning up the system takes place. Ensuring “prompt and transparent” investigation is sine qua non for bringing about a just and amicable resolution to this crisis, the representation read.
Despite our innocence, it appears that we have been clubbed together with the guilty and summarily convicted. Therefore, in order to establish our innocence and help the ongoing investigations, we have voluntarily given our written consent  to the concerned authority for sanctioning any level/type of investigation.
The Joint Committee further said that it is a matter of concern for the entire state that if the government succumbs to the unjust demands a wrong trend will be set. In future, it may be used as a precedent by unsuccessful candidates with vested interest to look for any mal practices with intention to nullify the exam as in any competitive exams the number of successful candidates are always less than unsuccessful candidates. Therefore, not giving into the demand of null and void will not only protect the merit system but would also provide security of service of the present but also the future candidates.

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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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