AAP demands judicial probe into alleged job scam

Team Herald

PANJIM: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday demanded that a judicial probe under a retired high court judge be ordered by the government into the alleged job scam, exposed by the BJP’s own MLAs. 

AAP leader Amit Palekar has given a 24-hour deadline to order the judicial probe as he accused the government of failing to act on the rampant illegalities involving cabinet ministers.

“Principal of the government polytechnic college and a lecturer of the college are involved in the manipulation of government jobs. There have been 316 appointments by the PWD so far, of which no one was appointed on merit, no process has been followed during recruitment and candidates were appointed before appointment letters are issued,” he said.

Palekar further took a dig at the government over the Staff Selection Commission claiming it is as good as redundant. “The government refuses to provide any information as to why recruitment is not conducted through Staff Selection 

Commission. Ministers even meddled with the Goa Board of Secondary Education. Blank papers are being checked, blank papers are being filled in, and failed people have been given appointments,” Palekar said, as he named the officers and departments involved in the alleged scam.

He claimed that the Health Minister Vishwajit Rane hired Kaliya Gaonkar, a retired staff from GMC and Director Dattaram Sardesai to do the alleged manipulation in the health sector. “Kaliya is a retired staff and there is no appointment of extension of duties from the government and still she is continuing working there,” Palekar said, adding, “One of the biggest scams happened in the Food and Drugs Department while hiring PSIs and police constables. Here, manipulation happened in terms of candidate’s height. Candidates who did not meet the requirements reached the third stage of the recruitment process.”

“I call upon the government to consider my two press conferences as the first information and conduct a raid immediately in the Yatri Niwas beside GMC and Government Polytechnic College. As a concerned citizen, I demand to appoint a retired HC judge to initiate a judicial probe into the matter,” Palekar said.

He challenged the CM to initiate action else admit that he is also involved in the matter and resign from his position as CM. This kind of manipulation is happening in all government departments, Palekar said.

The government is on the back foot after its own MLAs have publicly alleged a scam in job recruitments. Panjim MLA Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate hit out at PWD Minister Deepak Pauskar over the scam. The allegation was denied by the minister who counter alleged that Monserrate had recommended recruiting his people in PWD, which was not possible as it didn’t fit the recruitment procedure.

Three ruling MLAs including Monserrate, Francis Silveira and Tony Fernandes have alleged that job aspirants from Valpoi and Poriem constituencies have been recruited in the GMCH. Both the constituencies are represented by Health Minister Vishwajit Rane (BJP) and his father Pratapsing Rane (Congress) respectively.