Rules reshaped to accommodate politicians, JPSC members’ kin

Vijay Deo Jha | Ranchi | Friday, June 11, 2010

The result of lectureship examination 2007 conducted by the JPSC has revealed a massive scam, wherein, kin of panel’s members and politicians of the State have been selected en masse. Their selection is already under scanner of the State vigilance bureau.

Most of them are close relatives or the associates of the members of the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and the powerful politicians of the State.

Around 200 of the selected 850 (approx) candidates are close associates or the relatives of the members of the JPSC or the politicians for whom law was twisted despite the directives of then acting chief justice SD Mukhopadhayay who asked the JPSC while hearing the case number WPS 1059/ 2006, to hold the examination under the guidelines of the University grant Commission and the Central University Act.

Former JPSC member Gopal Prasad Singh reaped maximum benefit by securing the success of around a dozen of his relatives and associates.

Learned justice had asked the JPSC to give preference to candidates having cleared National Eligibility Test and Bihar Eligibility Test. Showing thumbs to Court JPSC members in collusion with the vested interest formed Jharkhand Appointment Rules and conducted Jharkhand Eligibility Test to ensure easy entry of their close associates in the lectureship interview. Scam was in formative phase at that time.

“We will probe the matter once the investigation into irregularities in the results of the second civil service examination conducted by the JPSC is complete. But we will start working out the case any time after June 20. Special team is in the process to be formed to handle the case,” a senior official of the vigilance bureau said.

Take a look at the list of the close relatives of the then JPSC member Gopal Prasad Singh. Anil Kumar Singh, Tripurari Prasad Singh (brother-in-law), Jugnu Singh (daughter in law), Shankar Singh (brother), Rekha Singh (relative), Kundan Singh (son), Sailendra Singh (close friend), Piush Bala (wife of close friend), Juli (wife of Dinesh Singh) another close friend of Gopal, Ratna Jha, Indira Tiwari, Narendra Jha, Manish Dubey (family friend) etc are some of the beneficiaries of lectureship scam.

Among them Kundan has a very interesting case as he had not cleared his Master in Commerce before he was selected in the lectureship. It is a matter of investigation that how Kundan was allowed to appear in the interview. “A candidate is not allowed to appear for the interview without having Master degree. Lectureship examination was not free and fair,” said an official of the JPSC.

Another former JPSC member Shanti Kumari resorted to malpractice to favour her sister Kanti Kumari.

Take a look at the political beneficiaries and you will come to know as to why leaders are pretty silent over such a mega scam. Rajkumar, the close associate of former BJP Chief Minister is teaching history at SS Memorial College. Preoccupied with the political activity of Jharkhand, Rajkumar might not have got time to update his knowledge in history. Jajdish Lohara the close aide of former HRD Minister Bandhu Tirkey also teaches history.

Luck smiled on Satrudhan Pandey one time reporter covering Trikey and HRD also became the lecturer of history teaching in a college in Hazaribagh. Dhruvnarayan Singh brother of assembly speaker CP Singh is now the lecturer in Mathematics at Chas College Bokaro, Snehlata Murmu daughter of former HRD Minister Hemlal Murmu is another history in making as she teaches History in one of the primer college of Santhal Pargana SP College Dumka, Rozlina wife of younger brother of NCP leader and former Minister Kamlesh Kumar Singh teaches Psychology to the girls of Ranchi Women’s College. Dr Ajay Kumar Singh who is stated to be the brother of RJD leader Girinath Singh was appointed as the lecturer of Psychology with another RJD leader Ramchandra Chandravansi whose brother is among those influential few who became lecturer. Two of the relatives of the suspended IAS officer Avinash Kumar—his wife and sister-in-law as well—were fortunate few. One of them was selected in History.

History is a case study of mass irregularities. JPSC appointed 41 candidates against sanctioned 37 posts. The fact came to light after one Vina Dubey sought the details from the JPSC under Right to Information. The preliminary investigation has revealed that besides flouting several laws the JPSC flouted three percent mandatory reservation for physically handicapped.

“Most of them left study decades back. They became lecturers by dubious means. They will spoil whole generation because they are not meant for teaching. They should be removed,” said secretary of Jharkhand BET-NET Association who is fighting this battle. After the removal of Dilip Prasad in the wake of controversies AK Sengupta has been appointed as an acting chairman. He refused to comment over what happened in the past. He promised a fresh beginning. “Transpa-rent,” he said.