Allegations of discrepancies in CCE’16 unwarranted: PSC

‘Aggrieved candidates can approach Commission with 3 days’

JAMMU: Rubbishing the allegations regarding discrepancies in Combined Competitive (Mains) Examination-2016 which he called ‘unwarranted’, J&K Public Service Commission on Monday said it will, still, provide an opportunity to the aggrieved candidates to project their concerns by making a formal representation to the Commission.

Hours after meeting Governor Satya Pal Malik, Chairman, J&KPSC, Latief-uz-Zaman Deva addressed a press conference Monday afternoon.

Flanked by Controller Examinations, Khalid Majeed and Secretary JKPSC, Rajesh Sharma, Deva asked the candidates to mail a formal representation to the Commission within three days mentioning their Roll Number and Name so that re-verification vis-a-vis the evaluated scripts is done, as a matter of abundant caution.

Regarding the introduction of on-screen method of evaluation, Deva clarified that it is in no way change of pattern as it only supplements and complements technologically the evaluation process and techniques.

He also said that newly introduced digital method is already being adopted by various examination bodies of different states like Gujarat and Rajasthan with an aim to bring in more efficiency and transparency in the system besides ensuring error-free results.

Deva dispelled the notion of some aggrieved candidates that in onscreen method of evaluation instead of evaluators assessing the performance based on the answers written by the candidates, computer does the evaluation as being done in evaluating OMR sheets of preliminary examination.

“In onscreen method also, the evaluation is done by the designated evaluators, however, without using paper or pen,” he said.

“We are confident that the result is error-free as it has gone through several checks and cross-checks inherent in the system,” he told the reporters.

Regarding the switching over the digital mode of evaluation, Deva said that there is already a provision in the Jammu and Kashmir Conduct of Examination Rules, 2005 envisaging switching over to the digital mode of evaluation in a gradual manner and in such of examination, as the Commission would decide.

Highlighting the difference between the manual and on-screen method, JKPSC Chairman said the only difference between the two is that in the manual mode of evaluation, the manual copies of the scripts are sent to the evaluators for assessment of the performance of the candidates wherein marks are awarded and recorded manually, while in onscreen evaluation of the answer scripts, the answer booklets are uploaded to the data center, wherefrom they are retrieved by the officials at local data center for display in the readable platform (computer) which is accessed by the evaluators through use of unique log-in IDs.

Further defending the decision of onscreen mode of evaluation, Deva said that it is for first time in the annals of the Commission that the result was declared within span of less than 4 months.

"This was possible only due to switching over from the manual mode of evaluation which ensured declaration of an error-free result within the shortest time-frame,” he said.

The PSC chairman reiterated his commitment of ensuring fair, transparent and best practices for conducting examinations and making selections.

Earlier, Deva met Governor Satya Pal Malik at Raj Bhavan here today and briefed Governor about the to-date functioning of the J&K PSC and continuing improvements being made by the Commission in the timely conduct of exams and interviews and declaring results with greater transparency and efficiency.

Governor emphasized the crucial importance of the Commission maintaining unimpeachable standards in the selection of candidates strictly on merit basis and time- bound clearance of promotion and various other cases pending with the Commission.