The attempted bribery scam in NPSC was the talk of the town in 2005. Many charges were leveled against the NPSC followed by clarifications from the NPSC. I used to compromise myself from taking seriously over those mistakes by strongly inclining towards the saying, “to err is human”, so no much fuss over it. But the fully loaded salvos of charges against the integrity of NPSC in the form of “Open Letter to Chief Minister (Nagaland)” from the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) have certainly evoked curiosity deep inside my mind. In reply to the letter, the CoE NPSC has issued clarification/justification over the charges but it is far from satisfactory thus impelling me to put across a few thoughts and questions to the CoE:
1. The NSF should feel sorry for making the NPSC officials undergo tedious re-examination of answer papers but let us not forget that the two (2) wrong questions were detected during re-examination of answer papers.
2. Re-examination of answer papers might not be heard of in other places but to me it is not the place but rather the situation that demands it. If situation demands, re-examination of answer papers can even take place in UPSC. To me, it was the situation that compelled the NSF to demand for re-examination of answer papers in 2005.
3. “Many mistakes, even in recent years have been committed and for which we have always apologized”. This is how the CoE has acknowledged the many mistakes committed by the NPSC. Well, to err is human but mistakes have limit. Does the NPSC expect forgiveness for all those repeated mistakes by tendering apology?
4. The NPSC Chairman must tell the Naga people why he had written letter to the Chief Secretary Nagaland to avoid departmental enquiry against the CoE?
5. The CoE has taken the courage to reply to the NSF’s charges. Can he answer to the charge why he employed Ms. Ajitha a clerk in Alder College to type question papers of NPSC 2004, which is supposed to be confidential?
6. If Ms. Ajitha was employed to type question papers, how did the question of employing professional company arise?
7. The CoE has rightly said that the NPSC entertains if complaints are genuine. But do not forget that the justice you delivered is done at the cost of someone’s dignity, pride, sentiments and feelings and that too for none of his/her fault but due to sheer negligence or rather incompetence of the NPSC.
8. Can the CoE answer the question on admitting an over-aged candidate? On what ground did the NPSC allow an over-aged to appear NPSC examination? To intense my apprehension over the admittance of an over-aged, his surname “Longchar” has been replaced by “Walling”. If the candidate himself denied having done that, who is responsible for it and is there any motive behind it?
9. What is the reason behind the re-declaration of a declared result after which the declared DSP was adjusted to UDA?
Well, if at all the charges leveled against the NPSC holds water, something is seriously wrong in the system for which the Government must come to the rescue. Moreover, the NPSC need no more justification but rather accept inefficiency and pave way for competent people. The Chairman NPSC being the head of the house ultimately must shoulder responsibility for the chaos in NPSC thus must relinquish the chair immediately. I for one support the call of the NSF for cleansing the NPSC and also appeal to the students’ community to extend fullest support and cooperation for the betterment of our future generation.
Roko, Mark Jamir
P.R. Hills, Kohima
