APPSC paper leak case: PAJSC’s 4-day sit-in protest from Oct 28, appeals public to join

PAJSC vice chairman, Tadak Nalo said that since CM Pema Khandu did not call them for a meeting after their 72 hour protest in May, they are holding the 96-hour

The Pan Arunachal Joint Steering Committee (PAJSC) will hold a peaceful sit-in protest at Tennis Court in Itanagar, from October 28 till October 31 to protest the delay by state government in fulfilling their 13 demands to fight the question paper leak issue in the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) assistant engineer (civil) exams held last year.

The PAJSC had been seeking permission from the Itanagar District Commissioner, Talo Potom for holding peaceful dharna as their next step to press for their demands.

Although permission to hold a peaceful sit-in protest at the tennis court in Itanagar for 4 days was first denied, but after their constant effort, the authorities finally been granted the permission for the same, said PAJSC vice chairman, Tadak Nalo. Earlier in May, the organisation held a 72-hour sit-in dharna in Itanagar.

“After the 72 hours bandh, we were expecting that Chief Minister Pema Khandu will called us to discuss the matter for addressing their doubts, but nothing happened, hence we have decided to hold the 96 hours sit-in-protest,” stated Nalo. He urged the public to join their demonstration.

The 13-point charter of demands put forth by the PAJSC includes:
1.The chairman, secretary, members and all other officials of APPSC from 2014 to 2022 must be immediately brought under the purview of investigation. If any discrepancies are reported, arrests must be made immediately.
2.Immediate constitution of a fast-track court for prosecution of the accused involved in the APPSC paper leakage scams.
3.Immediate establishment of state administrative tribunal.
4.Immediate endorsement of (enforcement directorate) and court-monitored probe and also immediate seizure of assets/properties (movable and immovable) of all the accused and the incumbents of APPSC along with their kit and kin.
5.Immediate disclosure of the status of the various departmental enquiry reports initiated so far against the various suspended or arrested officials and subsequent dismissal/ termination thereof.
6.Immediate disclosure of the three-member committee report. Suspension of all the upcoming examination till the completion of investigation process and endorse UPSC to conduct the upcoming examination till the completion of investigation process.
7.The higher officials above the rank of Deputy Secretary serving between 2014 to 2022 must be investigated and arrested if necessary. Any exam found to have involved malpractices like paper leakage scams must be immediately declared ‘null and void’.
8.Inclusion of two members from the aspirants in the preparation of SOP (standard operating procedure) of APPSC.
9.Immediate legislation and implementation of whistle blower act with special provisions for the protection and rewards to the whistle blowers. Justice for Mudang Yabyang, person with Disability (PWD) and the streamlining of selection criteria for PWD candidates.
10.Immediate recalling of the three officials posted under APPSC.
11.The PAJSC is also demanding the immediate revocation of the suspension order of the committee’s chairman Techi Puru besides also demanding the immediate cancellation of his detention order under Arunachal Pradesh Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. Techi Puru, had been suspended by the state PWD over his participation in the movement.

12. One of the other key demand is the immediate release of financial compensation for all protesters injured during the bandh call on February 17 and 18, 2023 and withdrawal of all charges against the protesters as assured by Chief Minister Pema Khandu.
13. 13.If the Govt. and the commission adamantly decides to go ahead with any examination process without fulfilling the aforementioned demands, then each aggrieved candidate of any examination till date, affected due to any discrepancies, malpractices, corrupt practices, etc. on the part of the Govt., officials of the APPSC, any person associated with the examination process or any person involved, must be financially compensated with a sum of Rs 5,00,000 (Five Lakhs). Further, each candidate should also be compensated with a sum of Rs 5,00,000 (Five Lakhs) for any examination to be conducted in future, if the respective examination is found to have malpractices and corrupt practices such as paper leakage at the later stages.

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