Chhattisgarh PSC shying away from holding examinations

Raipur, Dec 20 (UNI) Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission stung by a series of controversies now wants to stop conducting examinations till completion of the court cases and inquiries pending against it.

Cases were pending in various courts, including the Supreme Court and High court, while Economic offences investigation bureau and Anti-corruption bureau were investigating into the complaints of favouritism, nepotism and corruption in the examinations conducted by the state public service commission.

PSC sources said Chairman Khelanram Jangade and members Amol Singh Salam and Radheshyam Dewangan discussed the situation arising out of court cases and probe into the affairs of the commission by various investigating agencies felt that it was adversely affecting the credibility of the constitutional body.

They said the commission had written to Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Krishna Mohan Seth apprising him that it was finding difficulty to carry out its main task of conducting examinations hence it want to stop selection process till this pending inquiries were completed.

Confirming sending letter to the Governor, PSC Chairman Khelanram Jangade told UNI that he and other commission members would call on the Governor to explain him about the situation. However, he refused to divulge more details.

Chhattisgarh PSC was in the midst of a series of controversies following complaints of corruption and other irregularities in state civil services preliminary examination 2005 as the examinees complained serious mistakes in the model answers and grading process.

As the aspirants launched agitation, former BJP MP and PSC member Chandra Shekhar Sahu resigned, demanding action against the then chairman Ashok Darbari. Subsequently, Mr Darbari was suspended and senior member Khelanram Jangade was appointed as chairman.

Few days ago, the state anti-corruption bureau had registered cases after Miss Varsha Dongre lodged a written complaint, alleging irregularities in the conduct of examinations and pointing out that four students, who had secured less marks than her, have been selected.

She had secured the relevant documents from the PSC itself under the Right to Information Act and filed the complaint with the anti-corruption bureau. Later, the ACB summoned PSC Secretary Pradip Pant for inquiry into the matter.

Meanwhile, sources claimed that the commission was worried over its officials being summoned to the office of anti-corruption bureau by ''Inspector-level'' officers to record their statements.

''Commission was ready to cooperate with the investigations but can we provide any confidential documents to such agencies ?'', they asked.

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