The Arunachal Pradesh government on Thursday decided to remove and suspend four members of Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC), two months after the reported leak of recruitment exam papers, officials said here.
Following the instructions of Chief Minister Pema Khandu, the state government has handed the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which also registered a case and a team of the central probe agency headed by a joint director is in Itanagar now.
After the Cabinet meeting on Thursday, Chief Minister Khandu handed over the recommendations of the council of ministry to Governor Brig (retd) B.D. Mishra to invoke the provisions of Article 317 to remove the four members of APPSC, which had conducted the examination for the post of assistant engineer (civil).
The Chief Minister said the state government is determined to initiate the process of cleansing of APPSC in the larger interest of the people of the state.
The state government, from day one, has made its intentions very clear for overhauling the entire APPSC and conducting the examinations for various posts in a free, fair and transparent manner, Kandu said.
So far, 10 persons, including APPSC deputy secretary-cum-deputy controller of examination, have been arrested by the state police for their alleged involvement in the paper leak case.
The Chairman of the Commission, Nipo Nabam, had resigned on October 14 "owning moral responsibility for the omissions and commissions of the officer of the commission" who was responsible for ensuring secrecy and preventing leakage of question papers.
Many organisations, including the Anti-Corruption Foundation, have been demanding the suspension of the APPSC Chairman, Secretary and other officials for the reported leak of question paper ahead of the recent examination for the post of assistant engineer (civil).
They have also demanded a "transparent" probe into the alleged leak.
On August 28, a candidate for the examination had lodged an FIR at the Itanagar police station, complaining that the question paper for the APPSC exam held on August 26 and 27 were leaked.
Meanwhile, the CBI has registered a case against Akhilesh Yadav of the Jeju Institute in Itanagar and unknown officials of APPSC.
"We will summon all the accused persons to join the investigation in the coming days," a CBI official said.
TRIPURA: Restriction imposed on sale of petrol, diesel as landslide hits Assam
As a massive landslide at Jatinga in Assam has hit the goods train movement to Tripura, the Tripura has imposed restrictions on sale of petrol and diesel.
Women perform rituals in Kali temple for rain amid heat wave
Amid the intense heat wave, the BJP MLA Antara Deb Sarkar, accompanied by hundreds of women on Wednesday performed rituals at a Kali temple in Sepahijala's Kamalasagar, seeking divine intervention for rains.
Hours after praising BJP nominee, Kunal Ghosh removed as Trinamool state General Secretary
Hours after Trinamool Congress’ state General Secretary Kunal Ghosh showered praises on Tapas Roy, the BJP candidate from Kolkata Uttar Lok Sabha constituency, the ruling party on Wednesday removed Ghosh from the post.
Salman Khan firing case: Accused gun supplier found hanging in Mumbai police lockup, declared dead
In a sensational development, Anuj Thapan, one of the prime accused in the firing at Salman Khan’s home, allegedly committed suicide in a Mumbai Police lockup on Wednesday, officials said.
Secretary of Tripura's prominent club shot dead, one arrested
Durga Prasanna Deb, Secretary of Bharat Ratna Sangha, a leading club and famous social body of Tripura was attacked by five assailants late Tuesday at Usha Bazar. The accused who has been nabbed was identified as Pradyut Dhar Chowdhury.
GST collections scale record high of Rs 2.1 lakh crore in April
The country's gross GST revenue collection for April this year soared to the highest ever level at Rs 2.10 lakh crore, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced on Wednesday.
Govt cuts windfall tax on crude oil, ONGC, OIL India Ltd to gain
The Government has cut the windfall tax on crude oil to Rs 8,400 a metric ton from Rs 9,600 with effect from Wednesday as part of its fortnightly revision.
Major jolt to Congress in Delhi, Naseeb Singh & Neeraj Basoya quit party, blame AAP alliance
In a major setback to the Congress party, two of its leaders and observers for two Lok Sabha seats in Delhi, Neeraj Basoya and Naseeb Singh have resigned from the party.