Editor,
Apropos the letter to the editor (ST Nov 5, 2012) captioned, `Rampant cheating in Accounts Officer examination,’ we the following signatories are shocked that such an allegation appeared in your esteemed newspaper after three months from the date of the Accounts Officer examination. Such an allegation is intended to tarnish the reputation and image of each and every candidate who had put in so much effort in preparing for the said examination, and it is totally unfair to the institution conducting the examination in particular. It may also be mentioned that there were two separate halls for conducting the written examination; one on the 1st floor and another on the top floor of the MPSC building. It surprises us how the concerned candidate can be present in both the halls simultaneously while alleging that 80% to almost 100% of the candidates had resorted to cheating.
If such an act had been committed by some individuals, the concerned party should have immediately brought to the notice of the invigilator or the higher authorities so that action could be taken then and there. Therefore, such an act of cowardice in maligning the said examination cannot be entertained.
It may also be mentioned that the invigilators had performed their duties efficiently and the higher authorities of the MPSC had also conducted surprise inspections during the said examination in both the halls on several occasions. Had there been such misbehavior by all the candidates as alleged, it would have come to the notice of the concerned authority.
It is astonishing that the person claiming to be the candidate had the time to look around and keep watch and timing over others candidates’ business, when the papers are difficult enough for even a fully prepared candidate to answer all the questions in time.
It is strange that a candidate would write such a letter to the editor when the result of the written examination has not yet been declared. The person who had made such false allegations may or may not be a candidate, but it is clear from the circumstances that the said person has vested ulterior motives. Moreover, it is ridiculous on the part of the said person to think that he is wiser than the authority concerned who are setting the format for the exam.
Therefore, as aspiring candidates for the post of Accounts Officer in the Finance Department, we would like to condemn such baseless allegations to malign the dignity of the fellow candidates and the MPSC in particular.
Yours etc.,
Signed by
21 signatories
Elections: India and USA
Editor,
The world was watching eagerly the outcome of the elections in USA. It was amazing to see the speed with which the results were coming in. And years of struggle and campaign ended with the almost immediate announcement of the results. What about the largest democracy in the world? The people of the state of Haryana have voted last week and they have to wait till the 20th 0f December 2012 for the results! Last time in the Kerala assembly elections one of the candidates died before the elections results were announced. He contested in this world and he had to reach the other world to get the results, thanks to the policy of the Election Commission of India. I fail to understand this colossal waste of national wealth for guarding those EVMs, for days on end, with round the clock security. Think about the agony of the candidates who have to wait and also feed their supporters till the counting date. How can the local issues that affect the state have a bearing on the other states that have to complete their polling? Could they not then postpone the elections in that State closer to December so that such waste of money is avoided. Are the same polling officers and security people involved in elections in both the states? After all, this is not Lok Sabha polls where the whole nation is involved. The EC has been doing this in the past too. The EVMs have reduced the counting time but the EC has made a mockery of the speed produced by the new machines by making such month long delays in counting. I really hope that such waste of national money is avoided in the future as we take a welcome clue from the USA elections.
Yours etc.,
Fr.Devasia Vazhayil,
Laitkor