Kannan Raghupathy It is increasingly becoming difficult to post anything on the CGLE 2013. In response to an agitation by the candidates and a proposal sent by the SSC containing several alternatives, the DoPT has, as seen in a press note issued on the PIB Website, decided on re-examination of both Tier I and Tier II in 12 ‘centres’ where there is suspicion of large scale ‘leakage’ of question papers, with the rider that the report of the CBI is still awaited. The press release also said that the SSC would place the details of the ‘centres’ for re-examination on its website. The much awaited Notice by the SSC listed a few ‘centres’ for re-examination and the Notice is not clear whether the entire Tier I examination in these centres will cancelled and held again irrespective of the day on which it was conducted. It is also not clear till date whether the re- examination will be in all venues(sub centres) of the listed centres or in select sub centres only. Some candidates have pointed out that the Notice of SSC is ambiguous on this. Therefore, the uncertainty about CGLE 2013 continues to haunt the candidates. In the era of RTI it is difficult to accept the reluctance shown in disclosing all relevant information to the stake holders, especially the candidates who had appeared for Tier II. The Press Note on PIB website also says that there will be age relaxation in the re-examination! The very concept of re-examination is that the same set of candidates who had appeared in the cancelled examination will appear again and, therefore, the reference to age relaxation is irrelevant. I have always maintained that people in DoPT involved in decision making in SSC related matters are not equipped to do so and the solution(!) of DoPT proves it again. About 60 to 70% of candidates of any SSC Examination are from Northern and Central regions and Delhi, Jaipur, Lucknow, Allahabad and Patna account for bulk of the candidates in these regions. If the examination is held in all the venues of the centres listed in SSC Notice again it will be for several lakhs of candidates and Tier I re- examination will take at least two months to organize and another two months, going by the present performance of SSC, for declaration of results. After that Tier II will have to be held again in these centres for the qualified candidates of Tier I re-examination. In all probability SSC will contemplate combining the Tier I and Tier II of the CGLE 2014 and re-examination of CGLE 2013 together perhaps on different days. In a multi-tiered examination where there is a provision for cut offs in each paper at various stages, including in the interview, candidates of ‘doubtful’ centres who qualified in Tier I could have been easily weeded out if Tier II only is conducted again under tight supervision with support from the CAPFs who now have presence across the nation. Even use of jammers could have been cost effective as the number of venues for Tier II would have been about 300 or so. I had suggested holding of Tier II in all centres to avoid litigations seeking equalization of marks in Tier II conducted earlier and re-examination. I still feel that it is a better and cost effective solution. But, Government decisions are difficult to challenge in courts of law even if they are taken on the basis of reports of Police based on conjectures rather than hard facts. I understand that the government employees, both of Central and Delhi Police, who were arrested by Delhi and other States’ Police red-handed, were let out on bail and are merrily continuing in service. They are not even suspended! Everything is in a flux and my advice to the candidates who are within age limit for CGLE 2014 is that they should apply for it and prepare well. The preparation will come in handy in the re- examination of CGLE 2013 too if and when it is held. For those who are overaged for CGLE 2013, there is no other alternative but to wait and prepare for the re-examination irrespective of whether the re-examination is held in select venues or all venues in the listed centres. My understanding is that whatever decision is taken by the government and SSC will have to be accepted by the CAT Bench before which OAs seeking cancellation of Tiers I and II are pending. I do expect CAT to accept the formula given by the DoPT only if the re-examination will be in all venues in the listed centres. After all Government has now accepted the report of Delhi Police of large scale leakage and cannot go back on it. CAT bench may not accept, at this stage, re-examination in only select venues in the listed centres. However, it is still possible to place an alternative proposal before CAT for holding Tier II again either all over India or in the listed centres ensuring that it is conducted fairly with adequate steps taken for eliminating frauds; if it is in the listed centres only there will be no inconvenience caused to the candidates of centres where there is no doubt of any “leakage’ of question papers. The role of Courts is to apply the principle of natural justice fairly and equally and CAT may accept either of the two proposasl if it is presented properly. Delhi Police and now SSC and DoPT, the latter two perhaps unwittingly, have succeeded in destroying the credibility of SSC as a recruiting organization. It will take yeomen efforts on the part of SSC to regain its credibility. I wish they show the resilience, will and initiative necessary for this endeavour in their own and national interest. I am not in a position to accept requests for friendship on my page ‘Kannan Raghupathy’ as it appears that FB as a matter of policy does not allow more than 5000 ‘friends’. Those who want can still follow me on the page ‘N K Raghupathy’.
Posted on: Sun, 02 Feb 2014 02:45:25 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015