Chhattisgarh Govt. Escalates PSC-2021 Controversy, Urges CBI to Investigate Irregularities

Chhattisgarh Govt, in a swift move has recommended a CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) probe into the alleged irregularities in the Public Service Commission examination of 2021.

A decision to get the scam related to the 2021 state civil services exam probed by the central agency was taken at a cabinet meeting held on Wednesday. A government release said that the decision was taken in view of complaints received from the candidates who had appeared for the exam.

“Many complaints of irregularities were received in the Public Service Commission examination of 2021, and as per our promise made ahead of the elections, the cabinet has decided to hand over the case to the CBI for thorough investigation,” Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao said in an address to the media.

Notably, ahead of the state assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata party had raised the issue of nepotism in the selection of candidates. During the Congress regime in the state, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) leaders staged a protest and demanded a CBI probe into the matter.

Notably, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and other top BJP leaders during electioneering for the recently held assembly polls had promised to get the alleged scam in CGPSC recruitment during the previous Congress government probed if the saffron party came to power.

The BJP pointed out that relatives of politicians, IAS officers and bureaucrats had made it to the selection list. Ahead of the elections in the state, in November, Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao in a statement committed to act on the Public Service Commission scam case if the BJP comes to power. Meanwhile, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya had said that the PSC scam is huge injustice done to the youths of Chhattisgarh.

Details about Chhattisgarh Govt’s PSC irregularity 

The controversy revolves around the results of the 2021 Civil Services Examination conducted by the Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission (PSC), which were released in June of last year. The BJP has accused the Chattisgarh PSC of nepotism, alleging that relatives of several government officials have been selected unfairly.

They also claimed that the selection process lacked transparency and proper procedure was not followed. The Chattisgarh PSC, however, refuted the allegations, asserting that the selection process was fair and transparent.

The Chattisgarh Govt then said it was ready to investigate any allegations of nepotism and that it will take appropriate action if any wrongdoing is found. The vacancy for 171 posts was announced in 2021. Lakhs of candidates appeared for the 2021 PSC exam for which the results were recently announced. According to available data, many relatives of bureaucrats found their names in the toppers’ list.

Recently, the case was also heard in the Chhattisgarh High Court. After hearing the case of 20 petitioners, the high court issued notice to the PSC and the state government and stayed the decision of the selection process of the State Service Examination 2022 as an interim relief.

A PSC candidate, Prashant Kumar Tiwari, and 20 others involved in the recruitment process in the State Service Examination 2021 conducted by the Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission filed a petition in the High Court.

The petitioners claimed that the entire selection process was completed after the interview on September 19, 2022, but neither the seniority list nor the final selection list was released. Instead, a new advertisement for the State Service Examination 2022 was hastily issued on November 30, 2022.

“Our lives have come to a halt as our dreams stand shattered. Our future is in the dark as I have been preparing for the exams for so many years and I have been meted out with such an ill fate,” Tiwari said.