There was serious negligence of duty on the part of Principal Cachar College in the conduct of exam: Ranoj Pegu

way2barak, Sept.14: The government had appointed the Principal of Cachar College as the Centre-in Charge of Recruitment Exam of Grade III & IV and so he is accountable for the smooth conduct of the exam. There was serious negligence of duty on the part of Principal for which DC Cachar lodged an FIR. This was stated by Education Minister Dr Ranoj Pegu, while replying to a starred question raised by MLA Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha in the floor of the house during the ongoing autumn session of Assam Legislative Assembly on Wednesday.

The starred Question No. 46 asked by MLA Dey Purkayastha in the floor of the House contained three parts: In the 1st part, he asked whether the Principal of Cachar College was arrested on 21 August, 2022 and at what time he was released. He also asked by whom was the FIR lodged? In the 2nd part, the MLA asked the time when the question paper on the day of exam was received by the Centre officer. In the 3rd part, MLA Kamalakhya wanted to know as the Principal was arrested and detained on 21 August, who was the Officer-in-Charge of Examination of Cachar College Centre and by whom the person other than Principal was appointed and examination was conducted ?

Replying to these queries during the ongoing autumn session of the Assembly, Education Minister Ranoj Pegu said, “The recently conducted Recruitment Exam of Grade III & IV throughout Assam is a very important and sensitive drive conducted by the state government. In the past many unfortunate incidents like leakage of question papers, delay in delivery of question papers etc. took place. Moreover, for the reconduct of exam due to alleged anomalies require huge amount of extra expenditure. Such anomalies also have a negative impression on the minds of the job aspirants. As such, the government this time has made a detailed plan to conduct the recruitment drive for Grade III & IV in a flawless manner.”

Continuing his response, the Education Minister said, “As regards Cachar College, Silchar, the government appointed its Principal Siddhartha Sankar Nath as the centre-in- charge of the Recruitment drive. However, the government is not in the know of the matter as to whom the Principal in the capacity of centre-in- charge has given the responsibility of conducting the said exam to somebody else as the Assistant centre-in- charge. For the government, the Principal has been appointed as the centre-in- charge and so he is accountable for the smooth conduct of the exam.”

The Minister further stated the Examination Centre-in- Charges were instructed to collect examination materials from the Strong Room from 5:00 AM onwards. He added that it was also instructed that the  Exam Centre was to be ready by 7:50 AM to facilitate entry of the candidates at 8:00 AM. Dr Ranoj Pegu said, “Inspite of such clear instruction, the on-duty Magistrate reported that there was no staff in Cachar College till 8:15 AM and even the gate was not opened. The question papers had till then not reached the college. This created a tensed atmosphere in the college. And if I am to see the available records, it comes to light that the Assistant Centre-in- Charge who was given the responsibility of collection of question booklets from the strong room at 5 AM collected the same at 7.48 AM. That means only 2 minutes time was left as per the schedule to make the exam centre ready. The centre was supposed to get ready at 7.50 AM, but this could not be done by the Cachar College authority. As such, the students were also not able to enter the college premise by 8 AM.”

“At that juncture, the district administration intervened and made an immediate arrangement so that the exam could be conducted. However, in this entire episode, the Deputy Commissioner, Cachar lodged an FIR for serious negligence of duty by the Principal, Cachar College who was the Centre-in-Charge of the Cachar College Centre. As such, the police administration informed that on the basis of the FIR, the Principal was brought to the police station u/s 41(a). He was interrogated by the police and allowed to go at night. Now, why the Principal was not released at 9 PM or 10.30 or some other time is not under the purview of my department. It is the matter of the Home Department,” added the Education Minister at the floor of the House.

In his written response to the third part of the question, the Education minister wrote, “On 21st August, 2022, in the absence of the Principal, the Assistant Officer-in-charge appointed by the Principal vide Notification No. CC/ Notification (Gr:-1V Exam) /2Q22/249-A, dated13-08-2022 conducted the exam on behalf of Officer-in-charge (Principal, Cachar College).”

Also Read: DHE’s instruction compels Cachar College authority to allow Ananda Ghosh to enter college

It needs mention here that on the basis of the report send by the Deputy Commissioner, Cachar, an enquiry was ordered by the Government of Assam. Dharmakanta Mili, Director of Higher Education (DHE) Assam came to conduct a detailed enquiry on 30 August, 2022 into all such alleged irregularities performed by the Principal. During his visit, various other serious allegations were reported by the teachers of Cachar College who happen to be the members of Assam College Teachers’ Association. The teachers handed over a detailed memorandum to the DHE Assam, wherein documentary evidences were also given to highlight the violation of existing rules and regulations by the Principal of Cachar College.

Now, as the matter of “gross negligence of duty” on the part of the Principal of Cachar College during the recruitment exam held on 21 August, 2022 has surfaced officially in the Assam Legislative Assembly, it would be wait and watch to see what action the government would take!

Also Read: Cachar College Principal and GB nailed, DHE directs to withdraw order served on Nayana Goswami