SHILLONG, Sep 13: The state government is taking steps to revamp and improve the functioning of the Meghalaya Public Service Commission (MPSC), Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said in the Assembly on Tuesday.
Replying to a query by Mawlai legislator PT Sawkmie during the Question Hour, the CM said the MPSC revamp proposal includes overall use of technology and common examinations for all posts demanding the same qualification and offering the same pay scale to avoid multiple examinations and to save time.
He cautioned that due diligence was required because different departments have different processes and rules which have to be followed. This is to ensure that there is no contradiction in the future and nobody goes to the court against the MPSC. “We had debated it in the Cabinet and sent it back to the department for reexamination. The department will bring it back after introducing the reforms and the changes that we have proposed,” he said.
The government is also planning to set up more examination centres throughout the state and introducing the Meghalaya Combined Competitive Exam Rules, he added.
He further informed that they are also going to set a timeline to ensure that the examinations and interviews are conducted in a shorter period of time.
Informing that there are 1,301 vacant posts lying with the MPSC, the CM said the COVID-19 pandemic and the High Court ruling on the roster system has affected the recruitment process.
According to him, every department has been asked to comply with the roster system. “Once it is in place, the concerned department can inform the MPSC to go ahead with the recruitment,” he said.
Trinamool’s HM Shangpliang observed that a lot of resentment has been seen among candidates over the failure of the MPSC to conduct the examinations on time.
“I am equally concerned with the 1,300 posts that are vacant,” he said.
Reacting to a suggestion of TMC’s George B Lyngdoh to upload the old question papers for the benefit of the applicants, the CM said the state government can only suggest the same to the MPSC which is an autonomous body.
