JPSC boss Neelima Kerketta retires with flying colours, sets bar high for successor

THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK

Ranchi, August 21: JPSC Chairperson M Neelima Kerketta retired today with flying colours but with a big regret.

She regretted not being able to release the result of the 11th Civil Services, CDPO, University Officers recruitment examination before time, thanks to non-cooperation from the members.

“I tried to give my 100 per cent. I did not suffer any loss, but the youth of Jharkhand suffered a huge loss. I will always regret this,” she said with a heavy heart.

By any objective evaluation, Keketta, a retired Maharashtra cadre IAS officer, has been an exemplary chairperson of the JPSC, which has long been defined by fraud and nepotism.

Most of the examinations conducted by the JPSC since 2000 have more or less been marred with controversies around corruption and irregularities. The CBI has booked several members and a former chairman for bungling in conducting the examinations.

After two years at the helm, Kerketta can point to the progress that has been made to inspire confidence in the JPSC.

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Civil services exams

In light of the recommendation made by the state government, the commission conducted examinations for appointment to a total of 342 posts in the Civil Services Examination 2023. The result was prepared by the commission after completing the evaluation of the copies of the Mains examination. However, the result has not been published till now. As per the rules of the commission, after preparing the result, there is a provision of scrutiny in civil services examinations and vindication in university service-related examinations before releasing it.

Incidentally, the file was sent to the members for scrutiny more than a week back. However, the file was not yet cleared.

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Apart from the civil services, the state government has also completed the selection process for the recommended single posts in the state universities. However, it also remains pending.

Situation was not favourable: Kerketta

Kerketta was candid in admitting that she wanted to make the JPSC trustworthy, but the situation was not favourable to her.

“As per the rules, the approval of three members is necessary for scrutiny to release the result. If even one member is not there, then the matter remains stuck. This delays the result. Therefore, this rule should be amended,” she said.

Introducing technology in making the whole examination process transparent, she made every effort to wipe out the stains put on the commission in conducting examinations over the last two decades.

She said: I tried to do every work carefully. I knew that whatever stain had been put on the commission, had to be removed at any cost. I got less time and the circumstances were not favourable due to which I could not do many things.”

She introduced many best practices which other public service commissions were following to make the examination transparent and trustworthy.

2001 Rules

She said that the Commission did not get as much cooperation as it should have. Many appointments got stuck due to a lack of expected cooperation.

Kerketta said, “If the image of JPSC has to be improved, then first of all changes will have to be made in the rules made in 2001. We have not seen anywhere that appointments to important posts like Professors in Engineering Colleges, Chief Scientist at Birsa Agricultural University, University Officers, Administrative Officers etc. are the responsibility of Assistant Professor level members. Whereas, the grade pay is also much less than the appointed people. I have seen that Vice Chancellor level people are members of the Public Service Commission of other states including Maharashtra. At least 50 per cent of the posts of members should be filled by people with an administrative background. This coordination is very important in the selection of members. At present, the three members of the commission are all associated with the university service.”

Still, the students were thankful to her but in the meantime apprehensive about the results as she has already mentioned about non-cooperation of her fellow members of JPSC.