Is the Prime Minister's blessing being turned into a curse by the R&E officials in the A&N Administration? : Aspirants suspect that malpractice took place in the combined final list of candidates selected for various posts under the A&N Administration

 

TMI Correspondent

Port Blair, Feb. 07: As a result of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's commitment and announcement of the "Rozgar Mela," a drive to recruit 10 lakh personnel in government and PSUs, all Ministries and Departments are working towards filling existing vacancies against sanctioned posts in Mission Mode. For expeditious recruitment, selection processes have also been simplified and made tech-enabled. This provides a golden opportunity for every unemployed youth in our country to secure a government job.

In the A&N Islands too, eligible unemployed youths seized this opportunity as a godsend after COVID-19 despite the age-barring situation. Accordingly, many in these islands secured government jobs during the Rozgar Mela, with full credit going to the Honourable Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi.

However, the officials responsible for conducting recruitment, examinations, and issuing appointment orders must do so with clean hands. Otherwise, deserving or genuine candidates may be unable to serve the nation in the national interest.

For instance, in the MTS recruitment under the A&N Administration, a Vacancy Notice vide File No. 4-13/2022-R&E Cell dated 28/04/2023, undersigned by Deputy Secretary (R&E), A&N Administration, was published in the Daily Telegrams on 01/05/2023 to fill a number of vacancies, tentatively subject to variation. Online applications were accepted from 29.04.2023 (from 11.00 AM) to 19.05.2023 (up to 12 midnight). Subsequently, recruitment for Group 'C' Common Category of "Metric Level" Posts (Erstwhile Group-D posts) to fill various departments of the Administration was conducted through an Open, Competitive, and Common Recruitment Examination on 09/07/2023 (Sunday).

Following the examination, a Press Note F. No. 4-13/2023/R&E Cell/971 dated 23/11/2023, undersigned by the Assistant Secretary (R&E), Secretariat, A&N Administration, was published in the Daily Telegrams on 24/11/2023, informing that the verification of documents/testimonials of shortlisted candidates, based on merit in the written examination of the Combined Recruitment Examination, Matric Level held on 09/07/2023, would be held at a single venue, i.e., TGCE Auditorium Port Blair, from Nov 25 to Dec 02, 2023, from 8.30 am onwards, and annexed the details of 4993 shortlisted candidates (i.e., Name, Roll No., Date & Time).

On 06/02/2024, a press release was issued informing that the A&N Administration had advertised 2520 posts of Matric Level, out of which 586 posts pertaining to various Departments of A & N Administration had been withdrawn/withheld due to administrative reasons and various Court Orders. Therefore, the total Matric Level posts to be filled shall now be restricted to 1934 posts only.

It is worth mentioning that upon receipt of Skills/Trade/Proficiency Test, category-wise, Select Lists of successful candidates for various categories of posts under different Departments of A&N Administration have been prepared.

The abstract of category wise Select List of candidates is given as under:

And on the same day, the Combined Final list of 1686 candidates selected for various posts under the A&N Administration and the concerned Departments was requested for verification of original certificates/testimonials before issuing the Appointment Order without fail.

Now, some aspirants allegedly suspect that malpractice took place in the Final list of selected candidates, and are raising the following questions:

1)            Repetition of Merit Ranking numbers: How many of the merit ranking numbers among the few candidates out of 1686 are repeated and why?

2)            Overall minimum cut off marks is 24.48 out of 150 marks: As per Public Notice F.No.4-13/2022/R&E/PF-III dated 24/11/2023, the minimum score for UR - 54.86; OBC - 47.24; EWS - 42.47; ST - 27.64; PWD - 25.6; MSP - 30.98; and ESM - 24.48. Then, how have the candidates who scored below 24.48 marks been selected?

3)            Total candidates applied around 48702; candidates appeared for exam around 41003; shortlisted candidates are 4993; and combined final list Selected for various posts under A&N Administration are 1686 candidates: Are the 3307 candidates are really worthless or non-eligible?

"These are the crucial questions that need to be answered justifiably by the concerned recruitment authority during this distressing time, particularly for qualified, age-barred, and unemployed candidates", parents urge.