Mugdha Das

APSC cash-for-job scam: 18 accused contest probe report, 39 officers sacked

Digital Desk: Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma, said today that the administration is still determined to pursue the APSC cash-for-job corruption case to its logical conclusion, sacking 39 officers thus far and pursuing additional charges. Speaking before the State Assembly, he said that "no rule in the world" permits the elimination of the complete 2013 and 2014 Combined Competitive Examinations (CCE).

Citing the Justice (retd) B.K. Sharma Commission's findings and legal experts' advice, CM Sarma emphasized that a complete cancellation would not be legally feasible.

CM Sarma emphasized that the commission discovered that certain officers would have passed the test even in the absence of manipulation in response to criticism from the opposition that some guilty candidates were still holding government jobs. He did, however, guarantee that each guilty candidate was being handled individually.

Additionally, the Chief Minister strongly objected to a recent ruling by the Gauhati High Court that halted departmental actions against eighteen accused personnel. He criticized the government for not submitting an affidavit in opposition despite being offered five distinct deadlines and questioned the court's handling of the issue.

CM Sarma argued that the High Court could have summoned the Chief Secretary and questioned the delay in presenting the affidavit before issuing the decision.

CM Sarma reassured the Assembly that the government has challenged the ruling and had not reinstated the 18 accused officers despite the court's stay order.

"The fact that I have the courage to criticize a judgment shows my dedication to taking this case to its logical conclusion," CM Sarma added