Endless wait for would-be jail guards

“I was called for a physical test in January and then for a year there was no update,” said an applicant from Solapur,hoping for a job in Byculla jail. “Many of us who had given the test kept calling the DGP’s office,but were told the date for the next phase was not yet fixed. After one year of uncertainty,I was finally called for a written exam this February but wasn’t told when the results would be declared.”

Officials admitted the process usually shouldn’t take beyond a year. “Last year,the process had halted because of the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. In March,the post of the DIG (prisons) of the South region fell vacant,following which the Superintendent of Arthur Road jail was given additional charge,” said DIG Bipin Behari,who now holds the additional responsibility while being posted in Nagpur. “Till the official designated to this post takes charge,the recruitment cannot proceed further.” The new officer is expected to take over within this month.

Rajnish Seth was DIG (prisons) for the region till his transfer in March 2010. Rajendra Dhamne,superintendent of Arthur Road jail,held additional charge for three months; this was given to Behari in June.

An official said,“We have written to the home department seeking exemption from the one-year recruitment freeze. We still receive incessant calls about the exam results.”

Of the 10,000-15,000 candidates who had applied that October,3,500 were called for February’s written exam. The papers are in a room at the DIG,Mumbai’s office and only after the home department gives the go-ahead will a caste-wise list be drawn up. All candidates are now two years older but officials said the age mentioned in the application forms will be considered.