The Arunachal Chief Minister – Pema Khandu today convened a cabinet meeting to discuss on the recent paper ‘leak’ fiasco of the APPSC Assistant Engineer (AE) examination, which were held on August 26 and 27.

According to the meeting, the cabinet resolved to take a serious note of the lapse and is determined to further streamline the system by closing the gaps.

Besides, the state government had suspended the commission’s secretary Jayanta Kumar Ray and joint-secretary Suraj Gurung.

However, Secretary of the Arunachal Pradesh Staff Selection Board (APSSB) – D Verma has been given additional charge of the Commission as its secretary. While, the Balijan Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) – Tasso Gambo has been appointed the joint-secretary & controller of examinations, while extra additional commissioner of Roing Rakesh Tacho will currently serve as the Deputy Secretary of APPSC.

Taking to Twitter, the Arunachal CM wrote “Chaired the Cabinet meeting on APPSC’s paper leakage issue. We’ve taken a serious note of the lapse and are determined to further streamline the system by plugging the gaps. We can’t tolerate any lacunae which undermine the sanctity of an institution like APPSC.”

Chaired the Cabinet meeting on APPSC’s paper leakage issue. We've taken a serious note of the lapse and are determined to further streamline the system by plugging the gaps. We can't tolerate any lacunae which undermine the sanctity of an institution like APPSC. pic.twitter.com/MZ0G0h4BaZ

— Pema Khandu པདྨ་མཁའ་འགྲོ་། (@PemaKhanduBJP) October 13, 2022

As per the latest update, based on the enquiry committee’s report, the cabinet has also decided to draft a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to be followed by APPSC and APSSB.

The CM assured that his “government will never compromise with the career of the youth.”

Besides, the APPSC chairman – Nipo Nabam, on October 14 has resigned on moral grounds, amid the ongoing investigation into the paper leak case.

The chairman has submitted his resignation letter to the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh – Brig. (Dr.) B.D. Mishra (Retd).

“In the matter of the unpleasant APPSC fiasco perpetrated by an officer of the Arunachal Public Service Commission on the infamous paper leakage of the Written Examination (Mains) for the post of Assistant Engineer (Civil) of 27 & 28 August 2022, I being the head of the Commission feel it prudent and rationale to put in my papers on the moral ground.” – stated Nabam.

“Hence, my resignation from the post of the Chairman, Arunachal Pradesh Public Service (APPSC) may be accepted forthwith and deemed demitted office with immediate effect,” – he added.

Recently, the state government recommended a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the paper ‘leak’ fiasco of the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC)’s assistant engineer examination.

In a letter addressed to the Department of Personnel and Training, the State Vigilance Commissioner – Kaling Tayeng sought necessary action for the transfer of the case to the CBI.

“The case is serious in nature and investigation by local police reveals involvement of state government officials as well as possibility of inter-state ramifications. Therefore, you are requested to initiate necessary action for transfer of the instant case to CBI for further investigation by them,” he said in the letter.

Its worthy to note that a candidate on August 28 lodged a First Information Report (FIR) at the Itanagar police station, alleging that the question papers for the APPSC examination held on August 26 and 27 were leaked. More than 400 candidates appeared in the examination.

In response to the incident, the SIC Superintendent of Police (SP) – Anant Mittal asserted that last week, the government officials – Binam Jomang, Talung Jomang, and Loth Ezing, a civilian were arrested.

Binam is a junior engineer (contractual) in the Panchayati Raj Department at Lekang in Namsai district, while Talung works as an agriculture field assistant at Pangin in Siang district. Ezing is a resident of Ruksin in East Siang district.

The arrests were made, after the case was transferred to the SIC from Itanagar Police on September 27. The Itanagar Police had earlier arrested six people. Those arrested included Deputy Secretary (DC) of APPSC and Deputy Controller of Examinations (DCE) Taket Jerang, besides teachers, and a candidate and his father.