Former APSSB Secretary suspended; Arunachal CM constitutes probe body

Our Correspondent

Itanagar: The State Government suspended former Secretary and Controller of Examinations of the Arunachal Pradesh State Selection Board (APSSB) SK Jain for alleged gross administrative negligence.

Jain, who is a 2007-batch IAS officer of AGMUT cadre, was also the Secretary of the State’s Land Management, Urban Development, and Town Planning departments.

Jain’s suspension came after the APSSB announced the cancellation of its Lower Division Clerk (LDC) and Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA) examinations over the recent “cash for jobs” fiasco.

A suspension order issued by Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar in the name of Governor Brig (retd) Dr. BD Mishra late Tuesday, said that a disciplinary proceeding is being contemplated against Jain and in exercise of powers conferred to the Governor by clause (a) of sub-rule (i) of rule 3 of the All India Service (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969 he stands suspended from his post with immediate effect. The order further stated that Jain, during the suspension period shall be stationed in Itanagar and shall not leave without obtaining the permission of the Chief Secretary.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pema Khandu, who has been furious since the scam came to fore, has also constituted a high-level inquiry committee comprising principal resident commissioner of Arunachal Bhavan, New Delhi, Jitendra Narain, and state PWD and Home commissioner Kaling Tayeng to thoroughly enquire and find out lapses which resulted in the APSSB fiasco.

The committee has been given the task to examine and find out whether procedures and safeguards were put in place to ensure the transparent functioning of the APSSB in consonance with the Act and Rules and for the conduct of free and fair examination by the board.

The committee shall also examine and find out whether proper supervision and due diligence was followed to ensure that the APSSB conducted the examination in a fair manner and the steps taken by the board to preserve evidence and present facts accurately, especially after the malpractices were alleged on social media after declaration of results, an official communique informed here.

Besides, the committee shall also examine and fix the responsibilities for administrative lapses by all the officers involved in the examination process and recommend suitable disciplinary action against the erring officers and officials.

The committee has been asked to submit its report to the chief secretary as soon as possible but not later than 21 days.

The APSSB had drawn flak from all quarters for its alleged failure to conduct the examination in a fair manner.

Following allegations of malpractice, a case under several sections of the IPC and Prevention of Corruption Act was lodged on February 16 with the Special Investigation Cell (SIC) of the State police.

The SIC has so far arrested 5 persons including APSSB under secretary Kapter Ringu and two data entry operators of the board in connection to the case.

The APSSB on Monday decided to cancel the examination and a new date for the examination would be notified soon.

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