Shillong, Aug 22: The Khun Hynñiewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) on Tuesday demanded from the state government to consider increasing the upper age limit of candidates appearing for civil service exams before the end of this month.
A delegation of the KHNAM-state youth wing met the chief secretary, Y. Tsering and sought his intervention into the matter since the last date for submission of application forms for Meghalaya Civil Service (MCS) preliminary examination will end on August 31.
“The state government should consider amending the advertisement published by the MPSC at the earliest, by increasing the upper age limit for SC/ST candidates,” KHNAM-SYW president ,Thomas Passah told reporters after the meeting.
In a memorandum submitted to the chief secretary, the KHNAM asked the government to increase the upper age limit for SC/ST candidates appearing for the upcoming civil service examination to 40 years, in line with other states in the North Eastern region.
According to him, the state government can make amendments as per provisions of the Meghalaya Civil Service Rules, 1975.
The decision to meet the chief secretary for the second time came after the delegation had met the Meghalaya Public Service Commission (MPSC) chairman, L.M. Sangma, who informed that there has been no direction from the government on this regard.
Asked about the outcome of the meeting with the Chief Secretary, Passah said, “The chief secretary has expressed that the issue is a genuine one, and he had forwarded the file to the personnel department being looked after by the chief minister, Mukul Sangma for necessary action.”
Meanwhile, the KHNAM has threatened to stage a protest if the state government is adamant on the issue.
“We would be compelled to take to the street if the government fails to take a decision on this matter which concerns the interest of the people of the state,” Passah added.