PAJSC questions appointment of retd Army officer as APPSC head 

Staff REPORTER*

ITANAGAR, Feb 13: The Pan Arunachal Joint Steering Committee (PAJSC), an organisation of aggrieved APPSCCE aspirants, has questioned the age as well as the reasons behind the appointment of Lieutenant Gen (Retd) Shantanu Dayal as the new APPSC chairman for only a year.

The PAJSC in a memorandum submitted to the governor’s office said that it welcomes the appointment of Dayal as the new Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) chairman; however, the confusion is to do with his age which is believed to be around 61 years as of now.

Speaking to the reporters, PAJSC member Tadak Nalo said according to the APPSC guidelines, a chairman shall hold the office for a term of 6 years from the date on which he enters the office or till he attains the age of 62 years, whichever is earlier.

“Now, the age of the new chairman is 61 years which means he will be holding the office for a year. Therefore, we strongly feel that the appointment is to conduct exams immediately,” he said, adding that unless the demands of the aspirants are being fulfilled, no exams will be allowed to be conducted. 

Nalo said that the committee also welcomes reformations in the commission but it should not be questionable.

Appointment of new chairman and members, and subsequently announcing new dates for examination is an old tactic by the state government to divide the aspirants. Such tactics by the commission and the state government have been witnessed in the past as well. So this will not be accepted, he said

Nalo said even if the exams are to be conducted; it should be endorsed to the Union Public Service Commission as it was one of the demands of the PAJSC.

Nalo also informed that the APPSC paper leak whistleblower Gyamar Padang will be arriving in the state after the completion of his medical treatment. And for this, the aspirants along with the committee have planned to organize a reception programme at Donyi Polo Airport.

Meanwhile, PAJSC chairman Techi Puru also questioned the state governor on why the appointment of the new APPSC chairman is for only a year and not for the entire 6 years tenure.

He said that any reformation in the commission should be for the welfare of the aspirants, and should be for the long run.