Excise recruitment transparent: Moatoshi

Advisor for Labour & Employment, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, and Excise, Moatoshi Longkumer, while interacting with officials at the recruitment site here Monday, directed the officials to maintain transparency in the recruitment process. He warned that any official found committing irregularities would be dealt with as per the law.
He also maintained that the recruitment process was transparent while visiting the venue for selection to the 46 vacant constable posts in the excise department.
Moatoshi along with commissioner of excise, H. Atokhe Ayemi, deputy commissioner (DC) Dimapur, Dr. Tinojongshi Chang, and department officials, were inspecting the recruitment being carried out at Dimapur District Sports Council (DDSC) Complex.
Speaking to the candidates at the venue, Moatoshi urged them not to be swayed by hearsay or allegations circulating on social media.
He assured that the entire recruitment process was being conducted in a free and fair manner under the watchful eyes of the media and the general public.
Later , interacting with media persons after the inspection, the advisor spoke of negativities being spread regarding the recruitment of excise personnel.
“They talk about the minimum qualification, class 8 pass. Yes, minimum qualification is class 8 pass. But above that, even a PhD degree holder is allowed to appear in the interview. Who stops who? Nobody stops anybody. So we are here trying to do justice,” reiterated Moatoshi.
Further, advisor said the department was trying its best to be transparent as far as possible.
He reiterated that that none of the candidates who do not qualify in the physical tests can sit for written test.
Explaining the introduction of written tests, Moatoshi maintained that it was no different from what was being conducted in other departments such as forest, police, or fire brigade. He therefore questioned why should the excise department not have a written test?. “We are trying to find individuals who qualify in the physical test and also in the written test. Therefore, I think one should not be very apprehensive about our recruitment process. We are trying to do justice,” he reiterated.
Asked about the allegations made by some intending candidates over concerns about transparency, Moatoshi assured that the department would look into any complaint from any candidates being left out after bringing it to the notice of the chairman of the department recruitment committee.
“As far as I am concerned, I think it is going very smoothly. It is well organized by the department and I believe it is under the media scanner, under the public scanner, so nothing can be hidden,” he reiterated.
On revision of posts from 40 to 46 after an RTI was filed, commissioner of excise, Atokhe Ayemi, clarified that proposal for the 40 posts was submitted to the government previous year. He explained that the increase arose later after six constable posts became vacant due to retirement.
After the advertisement was issued on April 7, following DRB approval received on March 25, he said the department included the six additional posts.
“Since the posts were vacant, we wrote to the government. The Personal and Administrative Reforms (P&AR) took cognizance, and after government approval, we issued an addendum. That was widely published in the paper. So we included the six posts and now it has become 46,” Ayemi said.
Asked about the allegations levied against the department by some intending candidates, Ayemi said the department would bring out an official agenda within a day or two to address and clarify the matter. It may be mentioned that physical test commenced on July 14 and would end on July 24.