he Mizoram Public Service Commission (MPSC) has indefinitely postponed several ongoing recruitment processes after an agitation by the Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP) over the functioning of the commission disrupted work at its office.Members of the student organisation have been picketing outside the MPSC office since Monday, preventing staff from entering the premises. The agitation entered its second day on Tuesday.In a notification, the MPSC said the disruption had forced it to temporarily suspend various recruitment-related activities and defer programmes that had already been scheduled.
Group C examinations likely to be affected
The commission said examinations for Group C posts under various departments are likely to be affected because question papers prepared by the MPSC could not be distributed under the prevailing situation.The departments concerned have been asked to await further instructions on the distribution of question papers. Departments that had planned to use MPSC examination halls for their recruitment examinations have also been advised to make alternative arrangements.The commission said personal interviews for the posts of assistant audit and accounts officer, assistant accounts officer (treasury), assistant accounts officer (works) under the Finance Department and field facilitator under the Social Welfare, Women and Child Development Department have been deferred indefinitely.All written examinations and personal interviews scheduled between August 11 and 14 have also been postponed.Fresh dates will be announced depending on the prevailing situation, the MPSC said.
MZP seeks changes to recruitment system
The agitation follows demands by the MZP for structural reforms and additional manpower to strengthen the commission and improve its efficiency and credibility.The student organisation has alleged that repeated administrative shortcomings in recent recruitment processes have affected the confidence of job seekers. It has also raised concerns over the commission’s one-time registration (OTR) system.The MZP has demanded that the existing OTR system be scrapped and replaced with need-based, post-specific application forms.It has also sought a one-time opportunity for candidates whose applications were rejected because of incomplete OTR document uploads to submit the required documents offline. The demand particularly concerns candidates who had cleared written examinations but were later disqualified during document verification.
MPSC rejects demands
The MPSC has rejected the demand to discontinue the OTR system, saying this could create fresh complications for job aspirants and affect a uniform recruitment process.The commission said the OTR mechanism was introduced to streamline recruitment and ensure “fairness and equality” in public employment, according to PTI.On the demand for a special window for candidates whose applications were rejected because of missing documents, the MPSC said allowing them to submit documents offline would violate the principle of equal treatment.According to the commission, candidates who had submitted complete applications within the prescribed period would be placed at a disadvantage if rejected candidates were later allowed to complete their applications.The MPSC maintained that candidates can be rejected at any stage if their applications are incomplete, irrespective of their performance in the written examination.
Commission cites disruption to candidates
The MPSC has expressed “serious concern” over the continuation of the protest, saying the disruption was affecting candidates appearing for written examinations and personal interviews, according to PTI.It also said the agitation could delay promotions of government officers, as departmental promotion committee meetings scheduled for promotion, regularisation and confirmation of employees under various departments have also been temporarily deferred.The commission said it had already taken steps to improve scrutiny of applications at the initial stage and had sought additional manpower from higher authorities so that documents could be checked thoroughly when applications are first submitted.It also said efforts were continuing to improve the online recruitment portal.The MPSC has urged the student organisation to end the agitation and lift the restriction preventing employees from entering its office.(with PTI inputs)
