Concerns Raised Over Corruption in Assam Engineering Services Recruitment

Allegations of Corruption in Recruitment Process

Guwahati, September 05: The group ‘Fight Against Injustice of APSC’ has leveled serious accusations against the Assam Engineering Services Recruitment Board (AESRB), claiming corruption and irregularities in its recruitment procedures.

During a press briefing, forum representative Manash Pratim Baruah stated, “The cut-off marks and results of the written exams were not disclosed, while appointments were made within 48 hours of the results being announced. This lack of transparency raises significant concerns regarding the integrity of the recruitment process.”

The forum contended that issues began with the establishment of the board itself. In June 2021, Dhrubajyoti Bora, who came from an arts background, was appointed as the Director of Technical Education and became the Member Secretary of AESRB, replacing Dr. Atul Bora, the Principal of Assam Engineering College, who met all necessary qualifications.

This appointment was said to violate the Assam Technical Service Rules of 1981, which stipulate that a Master’s or Doctorate in Engineering, along with considerable teaching and research experience, is required.

Baruah highlighted specific irregularities in the recruitment of lecturers. “In 2023, an examination was conducted by AESRB, where candidates were expected to be graduates with results announced. However, one candidate was selected despite not having passed her exam at the time of the advertisement.”

He elaborated, “When this irregularity was raised, her appointment was verbally revoked due to a ‘verification error.’ But how could such a significant mistake happen in a recruitment process that involves multiple verification stages? No disciplinary action was taken against her, and she was later reinstated.”

The candidate in question was identified as Ms. Angelina Gogoi, whose initial appointment as a lecturer in a polytechnic was rescinded but later reinstated in a subsequent recruitment round.

The forum also expressed strong disapproval of the 25-mark Teaching Proficiency Test (TPT), arguing that it lacked clear evaluation guidelines, leaving the assessment entirely to the discretion of board members, which opens the door for manipulation.

Additional allegations included the use of incorrect questions and answer keys, failure to disclose written exam scores, and the absence of published cut-off marks, along with dubious evaluation methods. The press release also noted suspicious selection trends, with candidates having consecutive roll numbers being selected in large numbers — 19 out of 72 in Civil Engineering, 12 out of 42 in Mechanical, and 6 out of 15 in Electrical.

The forum further pointed out that highly qualified candidates, including PhD holders from IITs and those with esteemed fellowships, were frequently overlooked in favor of less qualified or favored individuals.

Describing the situation as a serious threat to students' futures, the forum called for immediate accountability from the government and corrective actions to ensure transparency in the recruitment process. Officials from AESRB and the state government have yet to respond to these allegations.