Bolangir: In a major decision, the state government has declared appointments of revenue inspectors (RIs), assistant revenue inspectors (ARIs) and amins in 2013 illegal Friday.
The matter came to the fore after Manoranjan Jena, secretary, state revenue and disaster management department, issued a notice-7467/R&DM/4.03.16 to this effect Friday.
The revenue department, in its letter to the revenue divisional commissioner (north), district collector and secretary and board of revenue, informed them of the decision and asked them to take necessary actions in this regard.
The decision came after the state Vigilance department conducted a probe and submitted its report to the state government.
The state government’s decision gave credence to severe irregularities in the recruitment and appointments of amins and triggered panic among those who were appointed.
The decision came after the state revenue department informed the state government about gross irregularities in the appointments and sought the opinion of the law department in this regard.
The state government reviewed the matter from all aspects and declared the appointments illegal on the basis of opinions submitted by the law department, the letter said.
Sources said examinations for recruitment for 169 posts of RIs, ARIs and amins in Bolangir district were held in 2013. Over 1400 candidates appeared for the examinations. Out of them 164 were declared eligible for appointments to various posts in the district.
The selection, however, came under severe scrutiny after allegations of irregularities were made.
It was alleged that the district administration received kickbacks running to several crores and gave appointments to ineligible candidates in place of genuine and deserving candidates.
The state Vigilance department registered a case and started an investigation into this.
The Vigilance department found clinching evidence against seven persons including former collector Debaraj Mishra, then head clerk Niranjan Tripathy, four OAS officers and then district social officer. The government registered cases in their names.
Former collector Mishra, head clerk Tripathy were sent to jail after vigilance sleuths arrested them. Later, they were released on bail. PNN
