Delay in Joining process of Recommended Candidates: Rajya Sabha QA

Delay in Joining process of Recommended Candidates: Rajya Sabha QA

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
(DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL AND TRAINING)

RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 602
(TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.12.2021)

DELAY IN JOINING PROCESS OF RECOMMENDED CANDIDATES

602 DR. SANTANU SEN:
Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

(a) whether it is a fact that several recruitments specially through Staff Selection Commission (SSC) takes years to complete;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;

(c) whether the shortlisted candidates of recruitment exams of SSC for which notification was released in the year 2017, 2018 and 2019 are still waiting for joining;

(d) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and

(e) the details of steps being taken by Government for time bound completion of recruitment process and joining of the shortlisted candidates?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

(a) to (d): The recruitment cycle of the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) generally comprises of multi tier examinations. The Commission publishes its calendar of examinations in advance and makes concerted efforts to ensure that the process is completed as per schedule and in a time bound manner.

However, some delay has been caused in completion of recruitment cycle since 2017 onwards. There are three main factors responsible for the delay in the completion of examination cycle of the SSC since 2017 onwards:

(i) A stay order on declaration of result of the Combined Graduate Level Examination (CGLE), 2017 and the Combined Higher Secondary Level Examination (10+2) (CHSLE), 2017 by Honb’le Supreme Court of India vide its order dated 31.08.2018 in Writ Petition No. 234/2018, which caused delay of more than eight months in the recruitment cycle of different examinations, especially the CGLE and the CHSLE. Stay Order was finally vacated on 09.05.2019.

(ii) There was an agitation by the candidates for about 20 days in March, 2018 due to allegations of leakages of Question Papers/ Manipulation in Tier-Il Examination of CGLE, 2017 by some of the candidates. This agitation and subsequent handing over investigation of allegations to the Central Bureau of Investigation resulted in complete stoppage of conduct of examinations of the SSC after March, 2018 through the existing service providers. The Computer-Based Examinations could be started by the SSC with effect from 13.01.2019 only after selection of a new service provider. This gap of nine months in conducting examinations of the SSC impacted the entire cycle of examinations for the series of 2018 and 2019 adversely. In fact, the 2018 series of examinations could be started only with effect from 13.01.2019.

(iii) Due to the COVlD-19 pandemic and the resultant Lockdown, all examinations were postponed with effect from 20.03.2020 and the same could be started only from 12.10.2020. This further resulted in delay of more than six months in the recruitment cycle and all examinations of the 2019 series got impacted adversely. The recruitment exams had to be postponed due to 2nd wave of COVlD-19 pandemic with effect from 20.04.2021 and the postponed examinations could be rescheduled with effect from 26.07.2021 onwards.

Final results of examination cycles of 2017 and 2018 have already been declared by the Commission.

As regards recruitment cycle of 2019, the final results of following two examinations have been declared:

(e): For time bound completion of the process, interview for recruitment at junior level posts were dispensed with effect from 01.01.2016. The Government issues instructions to all the Ministries/Departments from time to time to fill up their existing vacancies including in their attached and subordinate offices in a time bound manner.

To expedite the joining process, reforms have been made in the policy of ‘prior character verification’. Instructions have been issued, that the appointing authorities may issue provisional appointment letters after obtaining the attestation form and self-declaration from the recommended candidates. The exercise of the verification of character and antecedents is required to be carried out within six months. Once the verification report is received and there is no objection on the facts given by the candidate, the provisional appointment letter is to be confirmed.

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Source: Rajya Sabha