Appointment of 8 Panchayat secretaries terminated

AGARTALA, April 13: Tripura Public Service Commission (TPSC) which has been dogged by severe controversy for acting under political will of the ruling party and recommending jobs in a partisan manner depriving eligible candidates, came under severe criticism from no other than the Agartala Bench of Gauhati High Court on Thursday when Justice BB Deb terminated appointment of eight Panchayat secretaries. The High Court flayed the TPSC for resorting to unfair means in an unprecedented and uncalled for manner surrendering to the government's desire in appointing those Panchayat secretaries. On November 1, 1995, TPSC published an advertisement for appointment of nine Panchayat secretaries in the ruling CPI (M)'s organ Daily Desher Katha. In pursuance of the advertisement 914, they submitted their prayer to the TPSC. The Commission, however, found only two -one Gopal Chandra Majumdar and one Sanchita Roy eligible for the post. The Commission selected Sanchita Roy but did not select Gopal Chandra Roy. In the meantime, the State government took 'special interest' and on December 26, 1996, the then director to Panchayat Department, Nepal Chandra Sinha sent a letter to the TPSC with a list of 90 candidates, evidently selected by the ruling party asking the TPSC to take their 'interview'. Though the candidates did not fulfil requisite criteria, the letter also observed that for the interview, the existing recruitment rules did not need any amendment. The TPSC acted accordingly and without amending the rules appointed nine out of the list of 90 (including Sanchita Roy). Gopal Chandra Majumdar was deprived this time too. However, in the wake of these appointment's two writ petitions were filed against the TPSC in 1997 by one Sankar Chauhan and in 1998 by one Hemkanti Nath. The Agartala Bench of Gauhati High Court, Thursday, in a strongly-worded ruling not only terminated the appointment of eight (except Sanchita Roy) Panchayat secretaries but also lashed out at the Commission. Justice Deb expressed surprise over the fact that an institution like Tripura Public Service Commission which came into being under the constitutional framework of democracy could so blatantly violate rules and regulations. After examining the minutes and result sheets submitted by the TPSC he felt that "from this admission, an unprecedented example has been established how the constitutional wisdom of an autonomous body like TPSC could surrender to the desire of the government in the matter of selection of candidates which is unthinkable and unexpected under the constitutional scheme of our Indian democracy. Moreover, the High Court found that the candidates were given a 'total number' but not on subject basis. Justice Deb also expressed surprise that despite Gopal Chandra Majumdar's requisite qualifications, he was deprived.