Arunachal Pradesh cabinet recommends removal of APPSC members

OUR CORRESPONDENT

ITANAGAR: The Arunachal Pradesh Cabinet on Thursday decided to remove all the four members of the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission to enable a free and fair investigation into the Assistant Engineer (AE) exam paper leak case.

The cabinet, headed by Chief Minister Pema Khandu in its sitting, recommended for initiating the provisions of Article 317 for removal and suspension of four members of the Commission, sources at the CMO said.

Taking to Twitter, Chief Minister Pema Khandu said, "Handed over the recommendation of the Cabinet to Hon Governor Brig (Retd) Dr B D Mishra ji to invoke provisions of Article 317 to remove Members of APPSC."

"We are determined to take the process of cleansing of APPSC to its logical conclusion in larger interests of our youths and state," Khandu tweeted.

"We are firm to retain and restore the sanctity of Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC), Khandu said in another tweet.

The Chief Minister added that the state government, from day one, has made its intentions very clear for overhauling the entire APPSC. "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," the Chief Minister disclosed in another tweet.

Sources in the state police department informed that a CBI team headed by a joint director level ranked officer has arrived here on Tuesday to oversee the APPSC paper leak fiasco. The paper leakage came to light on August 29 this year after written information was received by the police from one Gyamar Padang, a candidate of the APPSC AE examination, claiming that he suspected that the question paper had been leaked. Earlier, the police had arrested APPSC deputy secretary-cum-deputy controller of examination Taket Jerang along with other ten, involved in the case. Jerang, who allegedly leaked the paper, has been sent on retirement by the Commission.

APPSC Chairman Nipo Nabam on October 14 had resigned from his post, owning moral responsibility for the omissions and commissions of the officer of the commission, who was responsible for ensuring secrecy and prevention of leakage of question papers.

Also Read:  APPSC exam paper leak: Arunachal Government replaced three officials

Also watch: