Pema Khandu Government approves probe into all APPSC exams

OUR CORRESPONDENT

ITANAGAR: The Arunachal Pradesh Government has given blanket approval for investigation into all examinations conducted by the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) since 2014 and disciplinary proceedings against the arrested officers and officials will be expedited, the State's Home Minister, Bamang Felix said here on Monday.

Referring to the recent question paper leak fiasco, Felix informed that disciplinary proceedings against the officers and officials involved would be taken up with incorporation of inputs from the Special Investigation Cell (SIC). "The departments concerned have been asked to update the status of departmental action cases against the suspended, arrested, compulsorily retired and dismissed officials and a consolidated report to be placed before the Cabinet and in public domain", Felix, also the Government spokesman, told a press conference here.

"The APPSC paper leak matter is just not a mistake or a blunder, but a blatant attack on our trust and confidence in the system which shapes our future. A handful of selfish, greedy and mindless individuals, who were in the helm of affairs, played with our emotions and ruined the lives of thousands of our youths", he said.

He said that the Government had taken the matter not as a challenge but as an opportunity to cleanse the system from its root, he said, adding that the Government is hell-bent on correcting the system and rebooting it so that a robust SOP is in place to rebuild the confidence and trust of the youths of the State.

Felix added that the Government has adopted a two-way approach to the issue – a free, fair and just investigation to identify all involved and initiate appropriate action against them, and the way forward to ensure a robust SOP is in place so that fair and clean examinations under APPSC are resumed at the earliest.

"A draft SOP has been prepared by a committee by consulting and researching the SOPs of the entire country to be recommended to the APPSC. Since APPSC is an autonomous body and, therefore, the State Government can only suggest and recommend the SOP to be adopted by it", he said.

The SIC so far had arrested 34 people in various cases over the scam, out of whom 27 are Government employees.

Referring to the proposed 12-hour Capital region bandh called by the All Nyishi Students' Union (ANSU) on December 27, the Home Minister informed that he, on behalf of the State Government, called the members of the union on Sunday at his official residence and apprised them on the action taken by the Government on the APPSC issue.

The ANSU has given the bandh call in protest against non-acceptance of its 13-point charter of demands in regard to the APPSC paper leak case.

Felix added that the Government is working on all the demands placed by the ANSU and the union members have been informed accordingly.

He appealed to the people of the State to wait till investigation in the APPSC issue by CBI and SIC is completed. The Home Minister also urged the ANSU to withdraw its bandh call, saying that it would affect the people at large.

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