ASESE&UA alleges unfair practices in recruitment of Ward Attendants by Health Deptt

CANDIDATE EARNS SEAT IN VIVA VOCE ONLY AFTER STATE INFORMATION COMMISSION OVERTURNS ‘GRAVE INJUSTICE AND WRONG’
GANGTOK, 21 Aug: The All Sikkim Educated Self Employed & Unemployed Association [ASESE&UA] has alleged that the recruitment process in filling up the post of Ward Attendant under Health Care, Human Service and Family Welfare Department [HCHSFW] has been unfair.
According to the association the order sheet of Sikkim Information Commission reveals that the concerned authorities of the Health Department committed ‘grave injustice and wrong’ to a female applicant, who competed and appeared for the written test conducted by the department on 18 January this year for the permanent post of Ward Attendant.
Addressing a press conference today, ASESE&UA president, Nawin Kiran informed that as per the department, the candidate did not pass the written test and therefore did not qualify for viva-voce interview. Dissatisfied with this result, she asked for verification of her answer script under the Right to Information Act.
He informed that that as per the records of the Sikkim Information Commission, justice was denied to her by the Special Public Information Officer, HCHS&FW Department and also by the First Appellate Authority, the Law Secretary, who “forced” her to accept the answer script carrying 25.5 marks [which was not enough to qualify for the viva-voce], which according to the applicant was not her answer script.
It is further informed that she then approached the Sikkim Information Commission, which meted out some semblance of procedural justice.
Mr. Kiran informed that due to the proactive role of the SIC it was revealed that the candidate had actually secured 65 marks in the written examination and was then selected for the viva voce. He thanked SIC for providing justice and for revealing such unfair practices in the recruitment system.
Mr Kiran alleged that in this case, the SPIO and the various concerned authorities responsible for the selection of the Ward Attendant and also the First Appellate Authority are guilty of violating Section 166 of the IPC. He further demanded that a competent authority or person of the State Government must file a First Information Report with the appropriate forum against these officials for disobeying the command of Section 166 of the IPC and thorough investigation of the case must be initiated.
The Health Department officials have violated all the applicable laws related to the departmental examination, selection procedure and interview to deprive a meritorious applicant, it was further alleged. Mr Kiran demanded that the officials involved in this case be identified and a suo moto case be filed against them by the government for proper investigation and strict punishment to the guilty.
Regarding the same, a memorandum was submitted to the Chief Secretary today by the ASESE&UA and copies of the same have also been submitted to the Additional Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary of Finance and Revenue Expenditure Department and Secretaries of DOP and Health Department.
Mr Kiran stressed that these are not clerical errors and if the government does not take any action against such malpractices then the association would approach the court to provide justice to the unemployed youth in the state.
The ASESE&UA has given a one-week ultimatum and announced that if the government fails to take strict action, the association will come out with its one-point agenda to remove the government.  It may be recalled that the association had earlier alleged of similar unfair practices in appointment of government jobs and called for cancellation of 3 recent appointments [refer NOW! issue dated 28 July 2012].