Interviews for Class III posts to carry only 10% weightage

Pradeep Sharma

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 28

The Khattar government today amended rules to ensure transparency in recruitment in a state notorious for rampant nepotism and favouritism in selections. The interview weightage for recruitment to Class III posts — including teachers and clerical staff — by the Haryana Staff Selection Commission (HSSC) has been capped at 10% of the total marks in the written examination. Currently, there is no uniform criterion for interview marks in the selection process.

The interview marks, which at times comprise up to 50% weightage in the selection process, are awarded at the whims and fancies of members of the HSSC that are mostly political appointees. The government is set to fill 43,707 posts in various departments. “As per the revised criteria, the number of candidates called for the interview will not exceed twice the number of vacancies. Candidates having the same percentage point as the last candidate will be called for interview,” as per the new rules.

The BJP had promised to end nepotism in government jobs in its manifesto. The Khattar government put on hold thousands of appointments initiated by the Hooda government. In the recent past, a large number of appointments have been scrapped by the High Court in the backdrop of malpractices in recruitments. Meanwhile, the state government has told the Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC) to devise a mechanism under which interview marks did not exceed 10% of the total marks in the written examination.