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Selected OSSC candidates threaten self-immolation

BHUBANESWAR: The happiness of Shyam Sundar Rao knew no bounds when he found his name in the final list published by the Orissa Staff Selection Commission (OSSC) for the post of Sub-Inspector in Police. But little did he know that his joy would be short-lived.After subjecting Mr. Rao to written tests, stringent physical assessment and personal interviews and finally selecting him, the Home Department did not send him the appointment letter though more than 100 posts were lying vacant.

Mr. Rao was not alone. Some 114 “successful” candidates were victims of administrative fiasco. These unemployed youths, who had launched hunger strike four days ago here along the Mahatma Gandhi Marg, now threaten to immolate themselves if their grievances were not addressed immediately.

It all started with the OSSC seeking applications for 350 SI posts in November 2006. The final results were out in August 2007. Some 350 names were published in newspapers as successful candidates.

Meanwhile, the State government came up with a guideline that reservation should not exceed 50 per cent in the wake of the Supreme Court’s verdict. Moreover, the Orissa High Court also directed that the vacancies to be filled by reserved category candidates should not exceed 50 per cent of total vacancies.

However, the Home Department said: “Since the Orissa Staff Selection Commission has advertised only 118 unreserved vacancies, the government, after careful consideration, has decided that in order to keep the reservation ratio intact at 50:50 for general and reserved candidates, it would be appropriate to appoint 118 general and 118 reserved candidates from the selected list of 350 as an interim measure.” Following the direction from the State government, only 236 out of 350 vacant seats could be filled.The remaining 114 selected candidates are now an aggrieved lot. The government did not give any kind of assurance to these students. They feard that their selection would become invalid after 11 months from the declaration of the results.

“We have met several top functionaries, including Chief Minister Naveen Pataik, but nobody is prepared to give us a concrete assurance. The apathetic attitude could be gauged from the fact that the condition of three candidates has worsened in the last four days of hunger strike here. But no official from the Home Department has come to us to enquire about our grievance,” Sudhanshu Sekhar Parida, another candidate, said.

They pleaded that the State government should maintain 50:50 reservation policy and fill up all vacancies.

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