Kohima, January 29: The Combined Technical Association of Nagaland (CTAN) has called for a re-examination of the Forest Guard written test conducted by the Department of Forest, alleging a series of irregularities that it claims have compromised the transparency, fairness and credibility of the recruitment process.
Addressing a press conference at the Kohima Press Club on Thursday, CTAN Convenor Meshenlo Kath and Co-Convenor Kaqheto Kughutu outlined what they described as serious procedural lapses and inconsistencies during various stages of the recruitment exercise. The association urged the state government and the concerned authorities to intervene immediately and take corrective measures to restore public confidence in the selection process.
According to CTAN, one of the major concerns relates to the conduct of the written examination itself. The association alleged that the examination was held without the use of Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) sheets, a system commonly employed to ensure accuracy and transparency in evaluating objective-type examinations. CTAN also questioned the absence of clear instructions regarding negative marking, stating that candidates were not adequately informed about the marking scheme before the examination.
Another issue raised by the association was the release of the answer key only after the question papers had been collected from candidates. CTAN argued that such a practice limits transparency and prevents candidates from independently verifying their responses immediately after the examination.
The association further alleged that examination procedures varied across different centres, leading to inconsistencies in the implementation of rules and guidelines. According to CTAN, uniformity in the conduct of examinations is essential to ensure equal treatment of all candidates.
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In addition to concerns surrounding the written test, CTAN highlighted several alleged irregularities in subsequent stages of the recruitment process. These included the collection of ₹300 from candidates for medical fitness certificates, deviations from prescribed interview ratios, discrepancies in published merit lists and alleged failures to properly conduct mandatory physical measurements for candidates.
The association maintained that these procedural lapses have raised serious questions about the integrity of the recruitment process and the validity of the final results. CTAN claimed that several candidates had reported anomalies and inconsistencies, prompting the organization to seek a comprehensive review of the entire exercise.
Calling for accountability and transparency, CTAN urged the Department of Forest to order a fresh written examination and conduct the recruitment process in accordance with established norms and guidelines. The association stated that a re-examination would help ensure fairness, equal opportunity and justice for all aspirants who participated in the recruitment drive.
CTAN reiterated its commitment to safeguarding the interests of job seekers and maintaining transparency in public recruitment processes, emphasizing that merit-based and impartial selection mechanisms are essential for building trust in government institutions.
