Recruitment to public services must command public confidence. In a right move to uphold public faith in the recruitment process, the Government has cancelled recent staffing of police sub-inspectors by J&K Service Selection Board. Lieutenant governor has also recommended a CBI probe into the selection process so that culprits are brought to justice soon. It’s a first big step towards securing the future of the youth and the government has announced it will soon decide the future course of action for fresh recruitment.
The declaration comes following an inquiry by a committee headed by Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, R K Goyal into the allegations of fraud in the selection process.
Last month, Sinha had ordered an inquiry into the selection of police sub-inspectors after allegations of fraud in the recruitment process surfaced. The list of 1,200 successful candidates was declared by the JKSSB on June 4. Over 97,000 candidates had appeared in the exam for the posts. The government decision is welcome to ensure faith in the system.
Persons who are recruited are intended to fulfil public functions associated with the functioning of the Government and as such recruitment to public services must command public confidence.
As has been rightly pointed out by the Supreme Court, recruitment to government services must command confidence as persons who are selected are intended to fulfil public functions associated with the functioning of the government. Where the entire selection process is found to be flawed, its cancellation may undoubtedly cause hardship to a few who may not specifically be found to be involved in wrong-doing. Nevertheless it is not sufficient to nullify the ultimate decision to cancel an examination where the nature of the wrong-doing cuts through the entire process so as to seriously impinge upon the legitimacy of the examinations which have been held for recruitment. It is thus in the right context that the government has decided to do away with the fraud selection. One hopes that the case is handed over to the CBI with reasonable haste and it is also hoped that the premier investigation agency acts with promptitude to bring those involved to book. Immediately the government must take steps to see that those prima facie involved are not allowed to tamper with the evidence and as such measures should be taken in this direction.
