However, some disgruntled voices were heard in the past regarding its sanctity. Irked voices are heard more frequently during the interviews of senior level bureaucrats, especially during the time for interviews of joint secretaries and under secretaries. For the last couple of years, a large chunk of senior officers preparing for interviews have been seen running from door-to-door and requesting their superiors and politicians to influence the test results.
Personally, I have observed this trend is rising. Some of the unsuccessful candidates even believe with certainty that there is something fishy in written exams too. According to recent media reports, an answer sheet was found in the exam hall from the previous day, when the examinees went to take the test.
In the real world, no organization can guarantee itself free from negligence and malpractices. In the same vein, no organization or a person can be expected to be right all the time. Once issues are uncovered, the responsibility of any credible institution is to investigate with fair degree of impartiality and ensure that such things will not happen again. Further responsibility of such an organization would be to disseminate information clearly about the cause of such an incident, remedial measures to be adopted in the future, take action against the culprits, compensate the sufferers if any and request humbly to the clientele for pardon.
In the above mentioned case of answer sheet found in the exam center, PSC should come forward with the real story and nullify the rumors that question its credibility. Integrity is the most sensitive and vulnerable quality, be it of an individual or an institution.
In my opinion, PSC still remains on top of the public institutions with the highest level of integrity. If the people who question the sanctity of PSC keep on rising, it will lead to serious consequences. It will result in civil servants or those aspiring for government jobs using their political and bureaucratic connections to succeed and as such meritocracy, the spirit of bureaucracy, will be killed. And the civil service would be reduced to fulfiling and returning the favors, rather than serving the country and people. Qualified people with no connections would not appear in PSC exams.
As a result, the quality of Nepali civil service would further deteriorate. Consequently, good governance would be undermined.
Another serious consequence would be the rise of violence. If people suspect that PSC recruitment system is unfair, then the unsuccessful candidates, including the less meritorious ones, would go against the government. Unemployed youths can be easily influenced by criminal outfits or political organizations, including the armed outfits that are mushrooming in Nepal.
Some people argue that PSC commissioners are appointed on the basis of party loyalty/quota, therefore, fairness can’t be expected from them. However, I strongly believe that if there is a system that ensures impartiality and maintains high degree of integrity, then it does not matter how the commissioners are appointed.
If PSC commissioners breach the system for their loyalty toward the individual who favored his/her appointment, such acts can be checked through a prudently designed system. If there is a mechanism to expose such individuals, then no single commissioner or an employee would dare put his/her credibility to repay favors.
On the other hand, if an aspirant qualified for PSC openings believes that selection process will be fair and unbiased, s/he would not blame the institution for his/her failure. Those who are successful would serve with high morale, fullest potential and integrity keeping in minds the fairness and act responsibly.
Therefore, it is absolutely essential to expose those commissioners who bestow favors to the candidates of their likings. PSC should also create a mechanism to gather information on candidates who may attempt to exert influence to any PSC official, expert and those involved in any exam procedure, and blacklist such candidates. Moreover, PSC should introduce prudent code of conduct for PSC commissioners and officials, particularly barring them from any contacts with the candidates. Any meetings of PSC officials and candidates should be recorded in the PSC secretariat.
Let us build, support and strengthen a system that ensures fairness in recruitment and promotions. Let us free PSC from nepotism and favoritism.
Writer is secretary at Prime Minister’s Office
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