Shillong: The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Meghalaya Public Service Commission (MPSC), accusing it of deliberately delaying the implementation of transparency reforms in the recruitment process and warning of intensified pressure if corrective steps are not taken.
The ultimatum followed a meeting between KSU representatives and MPSC chairman D. Langstang, during which the student body expressed strong dissatisfaction over what it described as a five-month inaction on the recommendations of a reform committee.
The committee, headed by Principal Secretary F.R. Kharkongor, had submitted its report to the Commission in August last year.
KSU employment and monitoring cell chairman Reuben Najiar said the Commission’s explanation that it was still “studying” the report was unacceptable.
He maintained that the committee had already completed its task and that further delay only raised doubts about the Commission’s intent.
“What remains is implementation, not examination of the report,” Najiar said.
The student body submitted a written reminder to the MPSC, demanding that all key recommendations, including mandatory disclosure of marks and other transparency measures, be enforced within a week. Najiar said the absence of such measures has eroded public confidence in the recruitment system.
Alleging systemic manipulation, Najiar claimed that recent policy decisions by the Commission could allow undue interference in examinations.
He cited the typist examination held in November–December last year, pointing out that while most Group C and Group D recruitments follow an objective, multiple-choice format, the MPSC opted for a descriptive test.
According to him, descriptive examinations leave scope for subjective evaluation and manipulation of marks, unlike objective tests where answers are clearly right or wrong.
He further alleged that such practices make it difficult for even judicial scrutiny to detect irregularities, enabling the Commission to favour certain candidates.
Najiar claimed that the current recruitment framework benefits a select few, while deserving candidates are left out due to lack of influence or resources.
The KSU also reiterated its long-standing demand that job advertisements issued by the MPSC should be restricted to domiciles of Meghalaya, instead of being open to candidates from across the country. Najiar said several other states follow similar policies to safeguard local employment.
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According to the KSU, the reform committee was constituted after years of protests and agitations over alleged irregularities in recruitment. Najiar said the union had submitted a 20-point charter of demands, most of which were incorporated into the committee’s final report.
He alleged that the continued non-implementation of the recommendations, coupled with non-disclosure of marks and poor responses to RTI applications, has deepened public mistrust in the Commission.
While acknowledging that no recruitment system can be flawless, Najiar said enforcing the committee’s recommendations would be a major step towards accountability.
“Once these reforms are implemented, the Commission will come under public scrutiny. Candidates will know their marks and will be able to question the process. That is what transparency is all about,” he said.
