Shillong, Feb 19: The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) has demanded a review of a key criterion on the number of candidates to be called for written test for jobs in the state police.
According to KSU, all candidates who have cleared the physical efficiency test (PET) should be allowed to appear in written examination, instead of the prescribed method of calling 20 times more candidates than the existing vacancies for the test.
Altogether 2,968 posts were advertised by the Home (police) department in different categories in March last year. The PETs have been conducted by the appropriate authorities in the previous months.
In a letter to the addressed to director general of police (DGP) Iadashisha Nongrang on Wednesday, the KSU sought her intervention in reviewing an office memorandum of 2023 that fixed the 1:20 ratio for number of existing vacancies and candidates to be called for written test.
In a letter submitted to Nongrang during a meeting, KSU employment cell chairman Rueben Najiar said, “(We) request you to review the Office Memorandum of Home (Police) Departmet.”
“The Union is of the view that written examination should be allowed to all the candidates who has passed the PET and should not be based on the ratio of 1:20 against the total vacancy,” the KSU stated.
“Such kind of pre-determined system might prioritize filling of quota over selecting of the most qualified candidate and this can lead to suboptimal outcomes as the best talent might be overlooked in favour of meeting the pre-defined ratio,” the KSU stated.
“The fixed ratio of 1:20 may not be suitable and ideal for all situations and post(s) that have been advertised as different post under the police requires different skill set,” it added.
“Shortlisting the candidates in 1:20 ratio from PET seems illogical,” the KSU said.
The KSU, however, underlined the importance of PET as a selection criterion in the police department.
Keeping in view the “high rate of unemployment” in the state, the KSU said not giving the candidates the opportunity to appear in the written test even after qualifying in PET is “a little cruel and discouraging”.
