IMPHAL, July 30: The Vigilance Commission has started an investigation on the allegation of irregularities in the conduct of DPC for filling up 41 vacant posts of grade-III Veterinary Animal Officer in the Veterinary and Animal Husbandry department.
According to information received by the IFP, the probe was set in motion following the intervention of State Governor, VK Duggal, who reportedly, on July 4, instructed the chief secretary to examine the case and initiate appropriate action against erring officials.
Subsequently, the chief secretary of Manipur who is also the commissioner of the Vigilance department had entrusted the concerned SP to conduct a probe in connection with the case on July 5, 2014.
Reliable sources informed that the department has its own service rules, 1994 for the officers in short called as recruitment rules which commenced from October 17, 1994.
However, it has remained impractical for more than 18 years, owing to several court cases in connection with the seniority positions amongst the appointment/ absorption of grade III officers.
However, since the commencement of the rules, the total authorised strength of grade IV veterinary officers is 111. Prior to this, 89 assistant surgeons were designated as veterinary officers under the RR.
At the same time, after the commencement of this rule the State Government published a final seniority list of 113 numbers of veterinary officers (order no.2/11/ 2002-Vety (A)Pt dated 8/9/2008.) including 32 veterinary officers appointed, bringing the total to 121 surpassing the authorised strength of 111.
Following the development, the State government sent a requisition to the Manipur Public Service Commission for filling up 41 vacant posts of grade-III deputy director/specialist from amongst the veterinary officers (as per the notification of October 23, 2013) during which another seniority list comprising of 98 veterinary officers was enclosed, as per the document available with IFP.
The document further revealed the State government in association with MPSC conducted the DPC on February 14, 2014 at 11 am and on February 18, 2014 for the vacant posts from amongst the 98 veterinary officers.
On February 18, 2014 (the second day of DPC) the additional secretary MPSC submitted a recommendation letter of the selection of 40 grade officers to the commissioner (veterinary and A&H GOM) as per the recommendation made by the DPC members.
On the contrary, the document revealed that MPSC submitted the said concurrence letter (dated 18/2/2014) along with the proceedings to the directorate, taking the signature of the director on the office copy, clearly indicating negligence of duty and misuse of power.
The same day, the State government also issued appointments by promotion of 40 grade-III officers with inclusion of un-recommended persons on the basis of the concurrence letter.
Following detection of irregularities during the promotion, the MPSC conducted a review DPC on April 2, 2014. But, surprisingly the minute proceedings of the review DPC along with the concurrence letter was reportedly received by a candidate in the list of the DPC identified as Dr Ch Chandrakishor, instead of the concerned commissioner.