Day 4 of APPSCCE protest
[Nellie N Manpoong]
ITANAGAR, Nov 13: 221 aggrieved candidates of various subjects have filed a contempt case, in connection with the previous writ petition, against the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) officials for allegedly making a false statement in its affidavit of opposition “to mislead the court.”
A candidate informed that the petitioners have filed a “criminal contempt of court” case against the APPSC officials for perjury for allegedly lying in the affidavit.
Their case has also been listed for hearing on 14 November, along with that of the commerce candidates.
Meanwhile, the protest against the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) entered its fourth day on Tuesday with Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Takam Sanjoy suggesting to the candidates appearing for the mains of the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Combined Competitive Examination (APPSCCE) to not appear for the remaining papers.
Joining the protesting candidates at IG Park here in the evening, the APCC chief asked the protesting candidates not to obstruct those appearing for the exams, but to explain to them the future repercussions.
Asking the APPSC to take moral responsibility for not conducting “justifiable examinations,” Sanjoy demanded en masse resignation of the APPSC chairman, its members and staff.
Also calling for an immediate cabinet meeting, he said if the cabinet members are not prepared to make a rapprochement for all concerned, its members “are not supposed to be in the government.”
Sanjoy also sought Governor BD Mishra’s intervention in the matter as the constitutional head of the state.
Assuring the candidates of his support, the APCC president said the Congress party would meet with the governor and the chief minister soon to initiate appropriate measures.
Earlier, in the wee hours of the morning, the candidates had gathered outside the APPSC office here, reiterating their demand for a favourable atmosphere for the examination only after the high court has given a clear verdict on the writ petition of the commerce candidates.
There were also candidates who claimed that they had become protestors by default.
Speaking to this daily, a candidate who did not wish to be named said he had arrived in the capital on 9 November to appear for the mains examination, with no idea about the situation here.
He claimed that he had gone to attend the examination at the Kingcup Public School centre but saw that there were protestors and security personnel everywhere.
“When we tried to enter, the protestors tried explaining the situation to us. We understood their issues and, to a large extent, they are right. However, we had no clue that the police were escorting candidates,” he said.
“How can the commission ask us to enter the exam centre by force? We are social-minded beings. How does the commission expect us to develop an indifferent attitude towards people who are agitating right in front of us?” he said.
Already in service at his hometown, the candidate said: “People have the wrong notion that we have not studied. I reached the viva-voce stage last time, and this is my last attempt, due to age restrictions. If I clear the APPSCCE, I will have to resign from my current job. If the court verdict goes in favour of the commerce candidates, will the commission compensate us?” he asked, and requested the APPSC to look into the situation of candidates like him, as well.
