Himachal Pradesh Refunds ₹4.27 Crore To 3.41 Lakh Candidates
Himachal Pradesh government refunds application fees, cancels recruitment across 80 categories.
The Himachal Pradesh government has decided to refund ₹4.27 crore in application fees to 3.41 lakh candidates after cancelling recruitment across 80 categories initiated by the erstwhile Himachal Pradesh Staff Selection Commission in 2022.
The decision to cancel recruitment was taken due to allegations of paper leak in recruitment examinations, which led to the dissolution of the Commission. It has been replaced by the Himachal Pradesh Rajya Chayan Aayog.
In 2022, 3.41 lakh candidates applied for 1,423 posts, with an application fee of ₹360 for the general category and ₹120 for reserved categories. The state Cabinet has approved the withdrawal of advertisements for these posts and the refund of application fees.
The recruitment process of the now-dissolved HPSSC involved written examinations using OMR sheets, which does not align with the current online system used by the Himachal Pradesh Rajya Chayan Aayog. The government has initiated fresh recruitment drives for certain categories and granted candidates a two-year relaxation in the maximum age limit.
Candidates are demanding the early resumption of recruitment processes for hundreds of posts across various departments. However, there is no clarity on when the recruitment process will begin.
The cancellation of advertisements and refund of fees have been approved, bringing relief to the affected candidates. The Himachal Pradesh government's decision aims to ensure a fair and transparent recruitment process.
The new recruitment process will operate using a computer-based test system, with an increased application fee of ₹400 for the general category and ₹325 for reserved categories. Female candidates and ex-servicemen will continue to be exempted from the fee.
The government's move to refund application fees and cancel recruitment across 80 categories is a significant step towards ensuring fairness and transparency in the recruitment process. However, the uncertainty surrounding the resumption of recruitment processes remains a concern for the candidates.
