The Arunachal Chief Minister – Pema Khandu, handed over the recommendations of the state cabinet on the removal of Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) members to the Governor – Brig. (Dr.) B.D. Mishra (Retd) on Thursday.
Taking to Twitter, the Arunachal CM noted that the state government is “determined to take the process of cleansing of APPSC to its logical conclusion in larger interests of youths and state.”
Handed over the recommendation of Cabinet to Hon Governor Brig(Dr) BD Mishra Ji (Retd) to invoke provisions of Article 317 to remove Members of APPSC. We're determined to take the process of cleansing of APPSC to its logical conclusion in larger interests of our youths and state. pic.twitter.com/joYRq7auN8
— Pema Khandu པདྨ་མཁའ་འགྲོ་། (@PemaKhanduBJP) October 27, 2022
He further added that the state government is “firm to retain and restore the sanctity of Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC)” and therefore, recommended to initiate the provisions of Article 317 for removal and suspension of four members of APPSC.
The Arunachal CM added that “the State Govt, from day one, has made its intentions very clear for overhauling the entire APPSC. The CBI has already reached Itanagar and has registered an FIR. It is now in the process of taking up the case soon for investigation.”
The State Govt, from day one, has made its intentions very clear for overhauling the entire APPSC. The CBI has already reached Itanagar and has registered an FIR. It is now in the process of taking up the case soon for investigation.
2/2 pic.twitter.com/oU9sEc8wKy
— Pema Khandu པདྨ་མཁའ་འགྲོ་། (@PemaKhanduBJP) October 27, 2022
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has taken over the investigation into the alleged question paper ‘leak’ fiasco of the assistant engineer exam conducted by the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) on August 26 and 27.
It has booked Akhilesh Yadav, a teacher at coaching centre – Jeju Institute in Itanagar, and unidentified officials of the service commission mentioned in the First Information Report (FIR) registered on a reference from the state government.
The Arunachal Pradesh Police had registered an FIR on September 10 against Yadav and others in the alleged leakage of the examination paper for assistant engineer (civil) recruitment. This was re-registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in accordance with the laid down procedure.
It was alleged by an aspirant that Yadav was in possession of questions for the examination, disclosing leakage of the paper in connivance with the officials of Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission.
Recently, the All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) and the All Nyishi Students’ Union (ANSU) jointly called a 12-hour bandh on November 2.
The student unions continued that the bandh call won’t be rolled-back, unless all incumbent members and remaining officials of APPSC tenders resignation. It have also demanded that the report of the SIC investigation and the three-member inquiry committee should be made public.
Besides, 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.”
On the other hand, the APPSC chairman – Nipo Nabam, was on October 14 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.
It is worth noting 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 earlier, 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 the Namsai district. Talung works as an agriculture field assistant at Pangin in the Siang district. Ezing is a resident of Ruksin in the 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 numerous persons, including the Deputy Secretary (DC) of APPSC and Deputy Controller of Examinations (DCE) Taket Jerang, besides teachers, a candidate, and his father.
