Tipra Motha legislator Ranjit Debbarma has called for a thorough inquiry into alleged irregularities in the recruitment of three junior reporters under the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category dating back to May 2017.
According to Ranjit Debbarma, the recruitment process carried out under the then Speaker, Ramendra Debnath, resulted in the “gross deprivation” of eligible ST candidates. He alleged that two candidates, Nishi Kanta Debbarma and Tanika Debbarma, were unfairly marked as having scored “zero” in the written examination, despite later evidence suggesting otherwise.
Alleged Discrepancy in Marks
The recruitment process consisted of a written test (50 marks), followed by shorthand, typing, and interview assessments carrying a total of 170 marks. While official records claimed that Nishi Kanta and Tanika had failed to secure any marks in the written examination, documents accessed later revealed a starkly different picture.
As per Ranjit’s statement, Nishi Kanta actually secured 66 marks in the combined evaluation, while Tanika obtained 56 marks. Both candidates were also included in the waiting list, raising serious questions about the credibility of the final results.
Furthermore, when Nishi Kanta sought to review his answer scripts through the Right to Information (RTI) Act, his request was allegedly denied. This, Ranjit emphasized, indicated deliberate attempts to conceal the irregularities.
MLA Seeks Justice for Deprived Candidates
Expressing concern over the matter, Ranjit Debbarma appealed to the current Speaker to address the issue with urgency. “The deprivation of ST candidates is a serious injustice. The matter must be rectified, and the deserving candidates should be appointed without further delay,” he asserted.
The Tipra Motha MLA also expressed shock at how qualified candidates from the ST community were sidelined despite meeting the required standards. He stressed that the matter is not only about two individuals but also about safeguarding fairness and transparency in the recruitment process.
Call for Preventive Measures
Ranjit further urged the assembly authorities to take corrective steps to prevent such irregularities in future recruitment drives. “We cannot allow such incidents to erode trust in constitutional institutions. Strong measures must be put in place to ensure that qualified candidates, especially from marginalized communities, are never deprived of their rightful opportunities,” he added.
Demand for Accountability
The MLA’s demand has reignited discussions on transparency in recruitment processes within Tripura’s legislative framework. Political observers believe that if the allegations are proven, it could open the door for disciplinary action against those involved in the 2017 recruitment drive.
For now, the spotlight remains on the Speaker’s office, with affected candidates and their supporters hoping for a fair resolution to a long-pending grievance.