Forensic opinion yet to come; next hearing on Oct 24
SHILLONG: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday submitted in the High Court of Meghalaya a ‘sealed envelope’ containing the report on the alleged manipulation in the recruitment of MPS officers.
The CBI probe was ordered following a petition filed by one of the candidates, Millon Ch Momin, into the alleged manipulation in the recruitment to fill 34 posts of Meghalaya Police Service Officer under the Home (Police) Department.
Momin, after clearing the physical efficiency test, the preliminary written examination and the subsequent mains written examination conducted from September 8-16, 2014, did not find a place on the list of successful candidates.
During the hearing on Thursday, the court when enquired as to whether the report was containing the opinion of the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) on the image taken from the hard disc of the computer, the counsel read out the communication dated October 5 from the Central Forensic Science Laboratory that looking into the volume of data to be scrutinised would take about 45 days.
“It appears from the submissions as made that the said FSL was apprised of the orders passed by the Supreme Court as also by this court only by way of communication sent on October 4,” the court order said.
Justice Dinesh Maheshwari in the order said the court had already taken note of the order of the Supreme Court dated September 20 expecting this appeal to be disposed of within a period of four weeks from the date of communication of the order.
The court further observed that on September 28, when the order passed by the Supreme Court was placed before the court, they had indicated the requirement of earliest disposal of this appeal.
“Any laxity or delay on the part of anybody/agency could only prima facie be taken to be standing at conflict with the orders passed by the Supreme Court and this court,” the order added.
The court while refraining from making any comment on the matter, however, preferred giving some more time to the agencies concerned while reiterating that this appeal is expected to be decided in any case, within four weeks from September 28.
This appeal is to be listed for hearing on October 24 and the counsel for the CBI was permitted to file the sealed envelope before the Registrar General who will produce it before the court on the next date of hearing.