Dental association questions recruitment process in Nagaland

Dimapur, Sep. 10 (EMN): The Indian Dental Association Nagaland State Branch (IDANSB) has questioned the selection process for five junior dental surgeon posts, which were advertised by the department of Health and Family Welfare on August 4.

In a press release issued on Thursday, the association alleged lack of transparency in the selection process.

‘Fifteen candidates were shortlisted out of 82 qualified applicants (3:1 criteria). Thirty-three applicants were rejected citing incomplete document, document not self-attested, overage, criteria not fulfilled.

‘The department’s decision to hastily call for viva voce immediately a day after declaring the list of shortlisted candidates without even declaring the score of the candidates  is something unheard of, and unacceptable,’ it stated.

According to the association, the department had erred even in the case of Ayush medical officers, where four applicants were not awarded due points for their work experience and were rejected. The department later had to reconsider those candidates and issue a new shortlist of candidates (63+4), exceeding the ratio of 3:1, it alleged.

‘In all fairness, the association requests the department to declare the score of all the shortlisted and qualified candidates (university marks + work experience + PG diploma/degree) before conducting viva voce; details of missing documents for the candidates rejected.

‘The association also earnestly appeals to the authorities concerned for reconsideration of ratio of candidates selected for viva voce, as selection ratio of 3:1 is usually considered after conducting the written examinations. Whereas, in this case, since no written examinations are conducted, in order to be more fair and just, and to give more opportunity to aspiring candidates, the association requests the department to increase the acceptance ratio for viva voce. Therefore, the IDANSB would like to request the department to postpone the viva-voice till such clarifications are sorted out,’ the statement read.