The answer key of a recruitment examination of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) were leaked, leading to the council postponing the recruitment process on Saturday — a day before the exams were scheduled to be conducted on Sunday. In a media briefing here this evening, Tripura ADC Chief Executive Member (CEM) C K Jamatia said, "We had advertised for recruitment in 110 vacant posts of Sub Zonal Development Officer and Deputy Principal Officer positions in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC). We were hundred percent prepared to conduct the competitive examination for recruitment scheduled tomorrow (Sunday) from 12.30 pm – 2.30 pm. We were ready with the examination centre, its in-charge, coordinator, invigilator, observers etc. However, we came to know that the answer keys were leaked. Due to this unavoidable circumstance, the examination has been postponed for the time being.” He also said the ADC administration will announce the new dates for the recruitment examination after deciding the same in the next ten days. Meanwhile, the tribal council has decided to lodge a police complaint and initiate an administrative enquiry to figure out how the answer key for the recruitment examination was leaked. "We have decided to lodge a complaint at the West Agartala police station. We shall arrange for proper punishment of those involved. We shall also take administrative action in this incident," he said. Asked if someone from the ADC administration is involved in the answer key leak, Debbarma denied to comment on the issue and said, "We have been speaking of good governance where we focus on transparency. The recruitment board supervises the whole process, including setting the question paper, conducting the exams etc. Since we got information that the answer keys were leaked, we have decided to postpone the exams.” He also said this is the first time the answer keys of the recruitment examinations were leaked in the Tripura ADC administration. He also said 26,000 applicants had applied for the posts, which were notified for recruitment for the first time in the last 20 years. Jamatia appealed to the candidates to cooperate with the ADC administration and said the fresh recruitment exam dates would be rescheduled and announced in the next ten days. What Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma said Taking to social media on the issue, Tripura ADC's ruling TIPRA Motha founder Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma said, "I have received a serious allegation against a leak in the answer sheet for the TTAADC examination to be held tomorrow. I have asked CK Jamatia (IAS) to immediately hold a press conference, postpone the examination, and file an FIR against those who were responsible for this.” “Once evidence was given, we cross-checked it. It’s my firm commitment that there will be no room for corruption. I am thankful to the people who came forward and showed us the evidence," he added. He also said that those involved in the incident are being identified and strict action will be taken against them. "People will serve time for this! Heads must roll!", he said and requested the students and examinees not to panic and confirmed the new dates will be announced soon and the examination will be held at the earliest.
