Action initiated against 34 ACS officers following 'cash-for-job' scam in 2013

In response to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's directive, the Personnel Department is set to instruct relevant departments to initiate departmental proceedings against 34 ACS and allied cadre officers who secured jobs through CCE-2013. The move comes after an inquiry report by Justice (retd) Biplab Kumar Sharma identified these officers in connection with the controversy.

Sources within the Personnel Department indicate that they received the official note from the Chief Minister, detailing the names of the 34 officers, on Thursday. The department is currently determining the specific departments to which these officers are affiliated. While the Personnel Department will oversee departmental proceedings for ACS officers, the concerned departments for allied cadre officers will handle the proceedings.

For instance, if an allied cadre officer belongs to the Assam Police Service (APS), the Home Department will be responsible for initiating departmental proceedings against them. During this process, no officer is eligible for promotion.

The next step involves the appointment of 34 inquiry officers, each tasked with investigating an indicted officer. The inquiry officer will conduct the inquiry based on the charges specified in the inquiry commission's report. The initial phase of the departmental proceedings will entail issuing show-cause notices to the 34 officers by their respective departments. This marks a significant development in addressing the concerns raised in connection with the CCE-2013 and underscores the commitment to transparency and accountability in the recruitment process.