Shillong, Aug 23: The state government is in the process of examining the demand to increase the upper age limit of candidates appearing for the upcoming Meghalaya Civil Service (MCS) preliminary examination.
This was informed by the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) state youth wing after receiving a verbal communication from the principal secretary in-charge (personnel department), R.V. Suchiang.
“She (Suchiang) made a confirmation over phone to the party that the matter related to increasing the upper age limit is under progress,” KHNAM-SYW president Thomas Passah said in a statement issued here on Wednesday.
Terming the communication a “positive news” for many educated unemployed youths of the state, Passah however said the party would follow up the matter in the next two days.
Earlier on August 10, the KHNAM in a memorandum submitted to chief secretary, asked the government to increase the upper age limit to 40 years for SC/ST candidates appearing for the upcoming civil service examination in line with other states in the North East.
The demand came after the Meghalaya Public Service Commission (MPSC) published an advertisement for the recruitment to the Meghalaya Civil Service on July 24 by fixing the qualifying age above 21 years and below 27 years. The upper age limit was relaxed by five years for SC/ST, that is upto 32 years only.
As the last date for submission of application is on August 31, the KHNAM delegation had again met the chief secretary on Tuesday after a meeting with MPSC chairman, LM Sangma on Monday.
The chief secretary told the delegation that he had forwarded the file to the personnel department, which is being held by the chief minister, Mukul Sangma.
According to Passah, the demand is in accordance with the provision of the MCS Rules, 1975 where section 9 Para (ii) of the MCS Rules clearly stated: “provided that the upper age limit may be relaxed in respect of candidates belonging to special categories in accordance with any general or special order issued by the government from time to time.”
He said that the MPSC chairman had maintained that it would not be a problem for the Commission to amend the advertisement (for purpose of increasing the upper age limit) based on the direction of the state government.
Passah said that delay on the part of the state government to take a decision in this regard, would be a great loss for potential aspiring candidates especially when the present advertisement for conducting the civil service examination was issued after a gap of 9 years.