Changes in civil service examination: Mamata calls it 'dangerous'

Kolkata, May 22: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday opposed the proposed changes in the allocation of services to candidates who clear the all India civil services examination, describing it as "dangerous".

"What I have come to know about the (proposed changes for) civil servants is very dangerous. They (IAS and IPS officers) used to come through their merit list. Now, if you think that whoever will be an IAS or IPS because of a particular...recommendation, then don't you think it is a constitutional crisis?" Banerjee told reporters at the state secretariat here.

"It's a constitutional breakdown...There must be a limit to everything," she said.

The Centre is considering a major change in the allocation of services to the successful candidates in the civil services examination. The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has asked the department concerned to explore if the services can be allocated after the completion of the foundation course, according to an official communique.

The duration of the foundation course for the officers of almost all the services is three months. At present, the service allocation to the candidates selected on the basis of the civil services examination, conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), is made well before the commencement of the foundation course.

The PMO has desired to explore if the service or cadre allocation to the probationers selected on the basis of the examination can be made after the foundation course, as per the communication sent by the Ministry of Personnel to the different cadre-controlling authorities.

PTI