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Journalism of Courage
Following the Guwahati High Court’s stay on the recruitment of 5,400 constables to the Assam police force, the Tarun Gogoi-led Congress Government has ordered a high-level probe into the selection process while the Opposition BJP went ahead with a 12-hour state-wide bandh on Wednesday alleging a job scam.
The entire Opposition has charged the state government with resorting to nepotism, favoritism and corrupt practices in recruitment of constables. The BJP claimed that a large number of applicants whose citizenship was doubtful (read Bangladeshi origin) found place in the list of selected candidates.
The HC’s stay order came yesterday on a petition filed by 10 candidates. The court has directed the state government not to destroy or damage any record of the selection process.
Stung by sharp criticism, even from within the Congress, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi last night announced the setting up of a high-level committee, headed by an Additional Chief Secretary, to look into the anomalies in the recruitment process. The committee has been asked to submit its report in a month.
The AGP and the BJP have alleged that the CM has admitted anomalies by instituting an inquiry.
The petitioners have complained that the government had flouted all rules and regulations by not making public the names of the successful candidates through advertisements in newspapers. The lists were supposed to be displayed at the offices of the deputy commissioners and the police superintendents, but even that didn’t happen, they said.
