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MPSC overturned norms in drawing up SC/ST merit list: ATSUM The Imphal Free Press IMPHAL, Jul 9: Just a couple of days after the declaration of the results of the combined civil services examination 2005 conducted by the Manipur Public Service Commission, MPSC, questions have come up whether the MPSC has violated its own rules in drawing up the final merit list. The All Tribal Students Union, Manipur, ATSUM, has charged that the MPSC's own written rules and procedures relating to the reservation for ST and SC candidates have been violated in the MCS/MPS recruitment process. The ATSUM, in a statement issued to media offices, pointed out that three ST and one SC candidate figure among the first 17 in the final merit list, which are seats left open to all (general category), but these candidates were still put against reserved seats for STs and SCs. This is in violation of the provision contained in the third paragraph of the point no. 13 of the state government's official notification, (Procedure for holding Combined Competitive Examination under Manipur Civil Services Combined Competitive Examination 2005, it maintained. The relevant provision reads, 'Provided further said the candidates belonging to the SCs. STs, and OBCs who have been recommended by the Commission without resorting to any relaxation/concession in the eligibility or selection criteria, at any stage of the examination, shall not be adjusted against the vacancies reserved for SCs, STs, and OBCs'. The commission has not explained why this rule has not been applied to these candidates, nor whether or not these candidates have availed relaxation/concession (i.e. in age or in terms of marks in the written test) as candidates of STs/SCs, the ATSUM statement said. It noted, in this context, that the upper age limit of 30 years (for all candidates), had been relaxed by another five years by the state government and this was officially endorsed by the MPSC. The ATSUM has demanded a proper and official clarification on this issue from the MPSC, and said it will be compelled to go to the law courts or take the matter to the streets if it is not satisfactorily resolved on or before July 13. The ATSUM has further urged the government not to be a mere spectator in this issue, stressing that it can be resolved before there is an agitation. In another development, the Manipuri Students Federation, MSF, has expressed concern over rumours of irregularities in the recruitment process for MCS/MPS at the viva-voce stage. The student body, noting that there has been persistent rumours of bribery and political influence in the process of selection of candidates, particularly in the viva voce/interview stage, urged the MPSC authorities to take necessary steps to allay these suspicions. In particular, the MSF demanded that the MPSC make public the marks secured by the candidates in the written (mains) stage of the examination. The MPSC's present stance that marks will be disclosed on request by the concerned candidate only after a month is violative of the spirit of the Right to Information Act, and has heightened suspicions among the public, it said.
