The opposition VPP raised its concerns during today’s budget session of the Assembly regarding the proposed changes in the minimum and upper age limits in the police and three other departments.
Moving a short duration discussion on the recent decision of the State cabinet on the matter, VPP MLA from Mawlai, Brightstarwell Marbaniang said the cabinet decision to set different minimum and upper age limit for recruitment to Home (Police) Department, Excise Registration Taxation and Stamps (ERTS) Department, Home Guards and Civil Defence Department, and Forests and Environment Department has caused worry to majority of unemployed youth in the State.
“As we are all aware that the last recruitment, especially by the Police Department was done in 2019 and many youth have been preparing themselves and they look forward to the next advertisement for recruitment to the different posts,” Marbaniang said.
Agreeing that employment opportunities in the government departments have become saturated, the VPP legislator however said that it is the Home (Police) Department where the majority of the jobs are available.
Marbaniang referred to the recent statement by Chief Minister Conrad Sangma while presenting the budget on the floor of the Assembly that more than 72 per cent of the population in the State is below the age of 35 years.
The VPP MLA said that he raised this issue in the House since he wanted to get clarification from the government whether it has any intention to change the minimum and maximum upper age limit as far as recruitment to these different posts is concerned.
“It will be highly unjustified, unreasonable and illogical if the government has any such intention,” Marbaniang added.
However, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma in his reply said that time and again the proposal for enhancement of age has been received from various departments and therefore upon careful examination, the State government vide an office memorandum issued through the Personnel and Administrative Reforms Department on February 3, 2022 has notified the enhancement of the upper age limit for entry into government service from 27 to 32 years with a further relaxation of five years over the upper age limit of 32 years for candidates belonging to Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Caste.
Sangma said that the new upper age limits will be applicable in case of all categories of posts except for certain categories of posts for the Home (Police) Department, Excise Registration Taxation & Stamps Department, Home Guards & Civil Defence Department, Prisons Department and Forests & Environment Departments.
In pursuance to the above order, he informed that four departments – Home (Police) Department, Excise Registration Taxation and Stamps Department, Home Guards and Civil Defence Department, and Forests and Environment Department have requested the State government to set different minimum and upper age limits for recruitment to government service.
Informing that these minimum and maximum age limits have previously been followed, Sangma said that posts like that of Inspector of Excise, Forest Guard, officers of the Meghalaya Police Service etc require candidates to pass certain physical tests, given the physically demanding nature of these jobs.
“In view of this, the cabinet meeting held on the 24th January 2024 has approved a proposal setting different minimum and upper age limits for recruitment to government service in the four government departments,” he said.
The chief minister said that the State government has ensured that the youth are able to further apply for jobs by ensuring that the upper age limit was increased.
Clarifying that the upper age limit which was there from before will apply for the physically demanding jobs, especially in these four departments, Sangma however said that this is not for all the posts, but only those posts as per the specifications given by these departments.
It may be mentioned that as per Office Memorandum No. PER. 380/71/124 dated 11 June 1973, the upper age for entry into government service was raised from 25 years to 27 years with a further relaxation of five years over the upper age limit of 27 years for candidates belonging to Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Caste.
