The aspiring candidates who applied for the newly added posts vide NPSC’s Addendum dated 21.02.2019 but rejected owing to late receipt of application seek reconsideration for fair and equal opportunity. It may be mentioned here that the time frame between the main advertisement dated 20.12.2018 and the closing date of application was 43 days, which is understood for every eligible candidates to submit application form within a given deadline. However, in case of aforementioned NPSC’s Addendum, the last date of application from the date of notification was only 11 days, which is clearly limited for the aspiring candidates who are residing outside the state/abroad and/or working under Central Government/Public Sector Undertakings. The given time frame is not even sufficient for in-service candidates, especially the central government servant to procure ‘No Objection Certificate (NOC)’ from the competent authority.
As per the office procedure, the in-service candidates who seek further employment in Central/State/PSUs services require to submit duly fill-in application form through proper channel for obtaining NOC as well as forwarding application by the competent authority. In accordance with the establishment rule in central government services, government servants seeking further employment in Central/State/PSUs shall issue NOC only after clearing Vigilance angle/Special Police Establishment (SPE)/Discipline & Appeal Rule (DAR). The case is usually routed from Personnel department to Vigilance via Police department and finally to Administration department. The practicing of procuring NOC is a lengthy process for Central/All India PSUs services and usually issues after 14-30 days from the date of receipt of application. This is the main reason, UPSC and Central government/PSUs recruiting agencies relax NOC at the time of submitting application and allow sufficient time to enable all the eligible/willing in-service candidates to apply and set the minimum timeline from the date of advertisement to the closing date of application as 30 days and also extended the postal delivery time of offline application up to 15 days from the last date of receipt for hilly and remote regions such as North-eastern states, Andaman, Nicobar & Lakshwadeep Islands. In the light of the aforesaid facts, NPSC should take a note that not all the aspirants are residing/working in Nagaland and able to submit application within a short time span; NOC for serving candidates can’t obtain through the black market or VIP/shortcut method; and it is not always possible for every aspirant to travel all the way to Kohima, just to submit application. For this reason, NPSC should relax the practice of submitting NOC at the time of submitting application and give sufficient time for serving candidates to produce NOC from employer at the time of document verification/interview within the ambit of recruitment rules for UPSC/Central/PSUs services. Furthermore, sufficient time should be giving to all the eligible candidates for any newly post advertised and the minimum time line from the date of notification to the closing date of application as 30 days and also extended the postal delivery time of offline application from present 7 days to 15 days as set by UPSC/Central/State/PSUs recruitment service rules.
It is understood that the aspiring candidates can’t submit application or obtain NOC from competent authority in advance without the post being advertised as they are required to fill up their choice of post(s) in which they are applying for. Therefore, obtaining NOC and application at the time of main advertisement does not arise here. Further, if new post is added for any recruitment year, fresh candidates will apply in the same mode as the candidates who have already applied. Likewise, adequate time should be given to all the eligible candidates who are applying for that particular post(s) at par with the time frame for main advertisement. There is no justice and equality where some candidates get 43 days + 7 days postal relaxation while other candidates get only 11 days to apply and lead to rejection on the ground of late receipt of application. The inequality and hasty decisions of NPSC for depriving the legitimate rights of some eligible candidates does not exist in the eyes of the law.
