By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma on Wednesday assured the House that the Government would examine the legalities concerning the appointment of the remaining qualified candidates of the East Khasi Hills Grade-IV merit list.
“We would examine the case of the 209 candidates who are yet to get appointments and then take appropriate steps,” Dr Sangma said, while replying to a zero hour notice move by UDP legislator Paul Lyngdoh on the plight of the DSC candidates.
While admitting that there have been anomalies since the recommendation was made beyond the number of vacancies, Dr Sangma said that the Government would initiate departmental proceedings against officers responsible for violating the norms.
He informed that the one-year validity of the merit list had lapsed and the DSC had recommended for extending the validity of the merit list by another six months.
“The Government could not approve the extension since the Supreme Court in its ruling on January 27, 2012 had disallowed recommendations for appointments beyond the number of posts which have been advertised,” Dr Sangma said. Earlier, initiating the discussion, Lyngdoh said that the qualified candidates have been running from pillar to post since last year to seek redressal.
‘Out of the 331 candidates in the merit list, only 122 have been absorbed which means less than 50 per cent of the successful candidates has been appointed,” the UDP legislator said.
Pointing out that the DSC had erred by recommending candidates far greater than the actual number of vacant post, Lyngdoh said that it would be fair and just to appoint the remaining candidates who had struggled to get through the qualification test and had appeared before the selection board to be eligible for selection.
“Many of the candidates have crossed the age limit to apply for any Government job and this is the last opportunity for them to get appointment,” the UDP legislator said, while urging the Government to take a sympathetic view in the case.
