As many as 80 police constable posts remain unfilled in the ongoing recruitment process after candidates from several districts failed the Physical Efficiency Test (PET), Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Yanthungo Patton informed the Nagaland Legislative Assembly on Monday.
Replying to a starred question raised by Advisor for Water Resources, Tongpang Ozukum, during the third day of the Eighth Session of the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly at the NLA Hall, Kohima, Patton said that some districts were unable to fill their allotted quota due to candidates failing the physical fitness test.
He informed the House that Mokokchung has 43 unfilled posts, Longleng 1, Tseminyu 3 and Wokha 1, while Dimapur, Chümoukedima and Niuland together have 30 male and two female unfilled posts, bringing the total number of vacancies to 80.
Acknowledging the reply, Ozukum appreciated the initiative of the Home Department in conducting the constable recruitment after a long gap, stating that it was a welcome step particularly for the unemployed youth of the state.
RECAP | Nagaland Police Recruitment: Mokokchung, Tseminyu, and Dimapur candidates qualified fewer than vacancies
Raising a supplementary question, Ozukum also asked whether the unfilled posts would be filled through a separate recruitment for the concerned districts.
Responding to this, Patton said that there will be no separate recruitment for these vacancies, nor will the posts be included in the next departmental recruitment advertisement.
Instead, he said the backlog vacancies will be advertised separately through a recruitment drive, adding that the posts will remain within the respective districts and tribes concerned.
ALSO READ | Nagaland villages to select new councils before April 30
During the discussion, several members including Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, Kuzholuzo Nienu, Achumbemo Kikon and Pongshi Phom also raised concerns and offered suggestions regarding the physical and written tests.
The members suggested that the department should review the weightage of the written examination and place greater emphasis on the physical test, considering that policing largely requires physical capability.
Responding to the suggestions, the Deputy Chief Minister said that the views expressed by the members have been taken into consideration and a report will be submitted after review.
