Initiate ‘fresh recruitment’ drive: HLSC

By Our Reporter:

SHILLONG, APR 26: The High Level Scrutiny Committee (HLSC) probing into the infamous 2009 education job scam had recommended the state government to initiate “fresh recruitment drive” for appointment of Asst LP teachers in the state.

“The only way out for the government would be to perhaps cancel the whole selection process and initiate fresh recruitment drive to all the vacancies,” the HLSC stated in its report .

This was in view of the nature and extent of illegalities and irregularities, some eligible and deserving candidates may have been left out unnoticed during the course of the scrutiny by the Committee.

However, the state government had allegedly failed to implement the recommendation of the Committee for conducting of fresh recruitment for filling up the vacancies till date.

It had also pointed out that the method of conducting of the recruitment and selection process for the post of Assistant Teachers in government lower primary schools was done in an “unprofessional way” which has created total chaos and confusion.

Further, the Committee was also of the strong view that in future the recruitment of teachers should be done by an “independent recruitment Board” consisting of professionals in the field of education.

“The above recruitment board should be well structured and organized in order that the process of recruitment is transparent and open for public dissemination of information related with the recruitment process so as not to pervert justice or show impartiality.”

The report of the Committee headed by EP Kharbhih, the then Commissioner & Secretary of Education Department & Executive Chairman, MBOSE, was submitted to the government on July 20, 2013.

It may be mentioned here that the HLSC was constituted by the Meghalaya government as per the order of the Shillong Bench, Guahati High Court on August 31, 2012.

Following its recommendation, the state government had earlier terminated as many as 246 LP schoolteachers from five sadar sub-divisions of the state after whose services have been found tainted.

Out of the 246, 53 teachers are from Shillong Centre, 92 teachers from Jowai Centre, 37 from Amlarem Centre, 21 from Tura Centre and 43 from Dadenggre Centre.

On reviewed and scrutinized of these five Centres which the scale of irregularities is so extensive, the Committee recommended the need to initiate departmental inquiry in other selection centres of the district concerned too even though there are no complaints and records.

It may also be mentioned here that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in its report which unearthed the education job scam had also pointed that majority of candidates were appointed in irregular manner by changing their original marks on account of experience, education, qualification in the score sheets by applying white fluid (correction ink).

While the education department had appointed 350 names as successful candidates in the selection process, 255 were those who were recommended by the politicians.

The CBI had named five cabinet ministers, then Assembly Speaker and six legislators in the Congress-led coalition government besides other politicians for tampering with the score-sheets of the candidates applying for the post of assistant teachers in 2010.