GUWAHATI, April 21 - With the increasing number of arrests of ACS, APS and allied service officials in the recent months leaving a vacuum in the administrative functioning, the State government has now asked the Department of Personnel and Training to explore the possibility of hiking the annual intake of officers through the Assam Public Service Commission (APSC).
Top official sources told The Assam Tribune that the Department of Personnel and Training has also been asked to chalk out a road map to bridge the gap in coordination with various other government departments.
More than 100 officers were caught on the wrong foot by various investigating agencies in the last 12 months or so with several of them already charge-sheeted.
In fact, a detail statement of posts lying vacant vis-�-vis various government departments at various levels was recently sent to the APSC, which the latter reverted seeking clarifications on certain points.
�Although, the arrest of such officials are somewhat affecting the functioning, we are for harsh action against those who have entered the system from the back door. In fact, presence of such officers would have made things worse for us,� sources said requesting anonymity.
While confirming the development, a senior APSC official said, �We have received a letter from the government regarding the existing vacant posts and the need to fill them up. However, after perusing the same, we have sought clarifications on a few grounds. We will act on it as and when the issues get cleared.�
�Technically, the posts that these officials are occupying cannot be termed as vacant until and unless they are actually terminated from the posts. In such case, we will have to go filling up the vacancy proportionate to the existing vacancies only,� the official pointed out.
The official said that the usual practice is to invite applications for jobs after getting a requisitioned from the departments concerned but then with so many officers occupying important posts behind the bars, there has to be some sort of gap-filling by the government.
