The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) has petitioned Governor Chandrashekhar H. Vijayashankar to initiate an inquiry against officials of the Meghalaya Public Service Commission (MPSC).
Leaders of the KSU met with the Governor at the Raj Bhavan today and apprised him of the goings-on in the commission that has sparked outrage among the youths.
The KSU said proceedings against the officials pertaining to the MCS examinations and other irregularities will uphold the integrity of the commission and pave the way for a fair and transparent recruitment.
The union told the Governor that various wrongful allegations, irregularities and deviation from the lawful recruitment process are part and parcel of the commission but till date there has been no effective change or penalty to the wrong doers because of the corrupted system, political backup and no appropriate authority to look into such grievances.
Highlighting the controversy in the MCS prelim examination and its protest that compelled the commission to publish the marks of all the candidates, the KSU said the marking was found to be flawed.
“Evidences that has arisen after the disclosure of marks was eminent that marks distribution by the Commission is totally flawed. In instances whereby if questions or answers are wrongly put by the conducting agency, instead of following the principles of natural justice of allotting marks to all the candidates for the wrong questions and answers or vice versa, the Commission followed a complex process which is totally senseless. After the reassessment of marks, it is seen that a candidate with less score than the cut off mandated is qualified for the main examination whereas a person with a high score is not eligible for the main examination,” the union said, adding, “These issues have crop in because the Commission is favouring candidates coming from influential segments of the society.”
Further, the KSU said there are various other irregularities in the Commission like delay in declaring of results for various other posts, deviations from the recruitment rules prescribed by specific department service rules to the posts of typist in Head of Departments and other irregularities.
A copy of the 20 “reformative” points to revamp the MPSC, which was submitted to the Chief Minister, was also shared with the Governor.
During the meeting, the KSU also urged the Governor to press the central government to enforce ILP in Meghalaya, as it is in other Northeastern states, to regulate entry of outsiders and protect indigenous inhabitants.
The union expressed concerns that CAA would disrupt the state’s demographic balance and requested its repeal to safeguard indigenous communities.
It also sought exemption from Indo-Nepal Friendship Treaty 1950, stating that this will have a negative impact on Meghalaya’s tribal population and land rights.
On the border dispute with Assam, the union requested resolution of long-standing border disputes, emphasising the need to recognise traditional Khasi Chiefs’ jurisdiction.
On inclusion of Khasi Language in the Eighth Schedule, the KSU appealed for recognition of the Khasi language to promote its preservation and development.
The union also pressed for the establishment of a permanent agricultural university in Meghalaya, as approved by the central government in 2010.
The KSU has been advocating for these issues since 1985, with repeated petitions to state and central governments.
