JCC asserts non-NPSC candidate should have been disqualified
The Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) of CANSSEA, FONSESA, NF&ASA, NSSA, and NIDA has called for the cancellation of the recently finalized Panel List, citing “procedural lapses” and irregularities in the recruitment process.
In a statement released by its Media Cell, the Committee noted that during a meeting with the Cabinet Sub Committee on October 20, “certain disconcerting facts have been placed across the Cabinet Sub Committee so as to facilitate the decision of the Cabinet at the earliest.”
Addressing the issue of procedural lapses, the Committee highlighted that “the Cabinet Sub Committee had stated that there were procedural lapses in the Vacancy Circular of 6th July 2020 and 10th March 2025 and hence it was required that the Cabinet should ratify it and it was done so by the Cabinet on the 27th March 2025, 2 days after the withdrawal of the Vacancy Circular the 25th March 2025 and one day after the deadline had expired for submission of applications.”
The statement further questioned the acceptance of a Non-NPSC candidate, noting that “the Non NPSC candidate had submitted the application based on the 10 March 2025 Vacancy Circular which stipulated that only officers recruited through the NPSC are eligible to apply. The question now is why was the application accepted when the applicant was not eligible to apply under the stated Vacancy Circular?”
It also pointed out inconsistencies in the subsequent Vacancy Circular: “when the 10th March Vacancy Circular was withdrawn and re-advertised, no new applicant came forward nor did the earlier applicants re-submit their applications based on the new guidelines of the Vacancy Circular dated 24 April 2025. Also, there was no instructions in the new Vacancy Circular stating that the earlier applicants need not apply afresh.”
According to the Committee, “when no new application was received consequent upon the Vacancy Circular of 24th April 2025, then based on which applications did the Screening Committee finalize the Panel List,” concluding that “the whole exercise of finalizing the Panel List is based upon invalid applications and must be revoked and cancelled.”
The Committee cited DoPT Office Memorandum No. 49014/7/2020-Estt (C) dated October 2020, para 3(8), which states: “Where the person employed possessed the prescribed qualifications and was working against sanctioned posts, but had been selected without undergoing the process of open competitive selection, such appointments are considered to be irregular; such a person cannot be allowed to be inducted into the IAS.”
The Joint Coordination Committee asserted that “every step had been custom made for facilitating the candidature of a particular Non NPSC candidate with the prospect of opening the gates for similar future candidates loitering in the corridors of power.”
The Committee demanded: “Cancellation of the Panel List which is based on flawed applications and procedural errors.”
“Restoration of the 10th March 2025 Vacancy Circular in toto which is in consonance with the Judgement of the Supreme Court in Civil Appeal Nos. 4426-4466 of 2023.”
The statement was issued jointly by CANSSEA, FONSESA, NF&ASA, NSSA, and NIDA through their Media Cell.
