GUWAHATI, June 17 - Pitching for reforms in the controversy-riddled Assam Public Service Commission (APSC), Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has, among other things, called for use of technology for transparency in the examination process.
The Chief Minister made the recommendations during a meeting with the Chairman and Members of the Commission on Thursday.
The Chief Minister said that the APSC needed some reform for ensuring that the deserving candidates alone were recruited and that the Commission regained its fading glory.
Official sources said that the Chief Minister called for �video footage of every interview and declaration of the results after three hours of the interview.� He also suggested that the checking of answer-scripts, too, be recorded on video.
The Chief Minister also voiced concern over the growing complaints regarding lack of transparency in the Commission's handling of the examination process, and said that the Chairman and Members of the Commission should refute such allegations convincingly through press conferences.
The Chief Minister further asked the Chief Secretary to release funds for installing CCTVs in the checking room and for recording the interviews.
Sources said that the Chief Minister underscored the need for putting in place a foolproof mechanism for recruiting the best candidates so that "only meritorious candidates are selected for the different state services, which in turn would facilitate efficient administration in the State."
The Commission has been plagued by controversies over the recruitment for quite some time, and at times, even been pulled up by the Gauhati High Court over the controversies.
