Guv orders FIR against ex-chairman of JPSC

Vijay Deo Jha | Ranchi | Thursday, June 10, 2010

Governor MOH Farook on Wednesday directed State vigilance bureau to lodge an FIR against the then members and examination controller of the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) for giving undue privilege to their close relatives and some others in the second State civil service examination. It includes the then Chairman of the JPSC, Dilip Prasad, and members —- Gopal Prasad Singh, Shanti Devi, Radha Krishna Nagesh and others.

With the direction of the Governor, 19 officials against whom the bureau has collected evidences have been attached with the Department of Personnel. Farook also directed the bureau to serve show-cause notices on them asking why their employment should not be terminated.

Among the tainted officials is Prashant Kumar Layak, the Dhalbhumgarh BDO of who was abducted and later released by the Maoists this year. Layak is stated to be the relative of JVM leader Pradeep Yadav. Radha Prem Kishore (DSP); Vinod Ram (Administrative service), younger brother of Shanti Devi; Mukesh Kumar (DSP). brother of AJSU chief

Sudesh Kumar Mahato; Kundan Kumar Singh (Finance service) and Rajnish Kumar (administrative service), both sons of Gopal Prasad Singh, are some other officials who have been taken to task.

Moushmi Nagesh (Finance service), daughter of Radha Govind Nagesh; Sangita Kumari (Finance service), relative of Dilip Prasad; Harishankar Barik (Administrative Service),Kumar Kujur, relative of a senior IPS officer, and Shivendra, relative of Gopal Singh, all from police service; Kanu Ram Nag, associated with former Chief Minister Arjun Munda; Prakash Kumar, Santosh Kumar Chaudhary, Kumari Gitanjali, Lal Manoj Nath Sahdeo and Hari Oraon all from administrative service, are those officials against whom proceedings will be started.

Directing to constitute a special team, the Governor has asked the bureau to complete the investigation within three months. In case the bureau requires manpower for investigation, the State Government asked it to appoint retired CBI officials on contract basis. Farook acted tough following the report of the investigation bureau indicating malpractices in the scrutiny of the examination copies of the candidates listed above. The bureau that has been investigating the case following the instruction of the State Government has scrutinised examination copies and the records of the interview of around 37 passed candidates. Taking a stern view against the report of irregularities in other examinations conducted by the JPSC, the Governor asked the bureau to form special team to investigate lectureship, Marketing Supervisor and Cooperative examination.

Earlier on April 13 this year, the Governor had ordered the suspension of former JPSC chairman Dilip Prasad. It should be noted that the advisory council of then Governor Syed Sibtey Razi on February 25, 2009 had recommended Prasad’s dismissal. Other JPSC members Gopal Prasad Singh and former member Radha Govind Singh Nagesh were also in the line of fire. The council had also requested President Pratibha Patil for a probe into their conducts and institution of criminal cases against them. Razi had acted following the complaints, including of irregularities in the appointment of 239 civil servants and 1,044 college teachers.

The University Grant Commission, following Jharkhand BET-NET Association’s complaints of irregularities in the appointment of college lectures, had requested the Governor to look into the allegation. There was no respite for the JPSC chairman after the next Governor, K Sankaranarayanan, on August 4, 2009 had given nod for vigilance inquiry against Prasad, Nagesh and Santi Devi.