IMPHAL | Nov 17 : The department of veterinary and animal husbandry has allegedly conducted the DPC for the recruitment of 22 veterinary officers (VO) (Grave-IV) in the wake of a standing order of the High Court not to declare the result of the said examination conducted by the Manipur Public Service Commission (MPSC).
It is learnt that the DPC was conducted on the night of December 4 last, just five days after a legal notice was served to the principal secretary and director of the concerned department not to go ahead with the decisions of the state cabinet with regards to the regularization and reinstatnement of then 37 contract employees who were engaged on contract basis during the year 1999 to 2002. It has been informed that the contract of the 37 individuals was terminated in the year 2003.
In 2015, the All Manipur Unemployed Veterinary Doctors Association (AMUVDA) filed a case with the High Court (HC) for the direct recruitment of the 59 vacant posts through Manipur Public Service Commission and not to engage or re-engage veterinary officers on contract basis after the ban is being lifted.
The High Court had given the directive to the state government for early consideration of the unemployed VOs she said.
Subsequently, the state cabinet gave its approval to lift the direct recruitment ban of Vety. & AH dept. and fill up the 59 vacant posts of VOs directly through MPSC.
But to the surprised of the association the previous government in violation of HC directive took a cabinet decision to put up only 22 posts instead of 59 posts.
Left with no choice the AMUVDA further filed a case challenging the advertisement (dated July 5, 2017) inviting application for recruitment to 22 VOs.
While the HC reportedly stayed the MPSC examination result in response to the said petition, the veterinary department allegedly conducted the DPC for the recruitment of 22 VO clandestinely on the night of December 4. The matter was also listed for further hearing on December 4 but later deferred to another date.
The move has raised concern amongst the aggrieved petitioners who has been relentlessly fighting for their demands. AMUVDA had also submitted several memorandums to the successive governments in connection with their demands.
Source: Imphal Free Press
