Irregularities Flood Appointment Process in IFCD

The following piece is a news report that was published by the Sangai Express in its July 9, 2017 edition with the headline Appointment slur on IFCD. Critical Tomba would be too naïve to understand the news but it has some related ideas on General Strikes:

IMPHAL, July 8: In contrast to the norms of filling job vacancies by selecting suitable candidates through holding examinations, providing offers of appointment and other standard procedures, the Irrigation and Flood Control Department has adopted procedures, which are both objectionable and illegal, according to a reliable source.

A departmental selection committee was held on November 4 and 5, 2016 for the appointment of 56 LDCs/computer operators in the IFCD after inviting applications from aspiring candidates via notification number CE /IFC/6-58/2016 on 24 August  2016, informs the source.

In the appointment of these 56 candidates—29 posts for UR, 17 for ST, 9 (7+2) for OBC (Meitei+Meitei Pangal) and 1 for SC out of the total 137 in several others posts—it is also pointed out that there has been sheer disregard for existing laws. The offer letters of appointment were given on November 25, which is 18 days after the date of appointment but without the mandatory medical examination for government employees.

This also implies, according to the source, there are irregularities in the allocation of quotas for candidates from the SC, ST, OBC (M), OBC (MP) and other similar backgrounds, which is only possible through routine procedures and which is against the law.

Such an action—apparently taken in haste without discretion around the end of 2016—shows signs of manipulation that amounts to fraud, and is mala fide in nature, maintains the source. Taking reference from past court orders across the country, it further recalls that the issue reveals the unawareness of the concerned IFCD officials of legal misadventures by citing the Supreme Court of India case of Inderpreet Singh Kahlon vs State of Punjab of May 3, 2006 and the Rakhi Ray vs High Court of Delhi case of February 1, 2010.

Both of these cases are related to breaking the rules of job reservation as per constitutional privileges for backward classes and appointment through backdoor.

Meanwhile, the N Biren Government has taken up the initiative to root out corruption by forming SITs to probe into recruitment processes, an initiative which is highly appreciated by the people of Manipur.

Along with a couple of Departments including those of Agriculture and Fisheries, however, the IFCD have been left out of the purview of the probe, possibly on the ground of convenience, said the source and is expecting the Government will cover all and sundry in the future in its campaign to create a clean Manipur.