Assam Govt to move to Guv for suspension of APSC chairman

The Assam cabinet today adopted a proposal to be moved to the state Governor for suspension of Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) chairman Rakesh Kumar Paul on charges of alleged corruption in the organisation.
The decision was taken a cabinet meeting in the city tonight under the leadership of Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, a government press release said.
As per legal provisions, only the President can remove a person from the chairman's post of the APSC, any state PSC or the UPSC under Article 317 after making a reference to the Supreme Court for "misbehaviour" or any other reason as recommended by the State Cabinet for removal, it said.

Paul was picked up from his office before his arrest on November 4 for alleged involvement in a 'cash-for-job' APSC recruitment racket.
Today APSC member Samedur Rahman, whom the police were looking for as an 'absconder' on charges of alleged corruption in the racket, was arrested from Rangia near Guwahati.
The cabinet also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for "his bold step of demonetising Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, to introduce Mukhyamantrir Aranya Nirman Achoni for promotion of medicinal and other plants for augmenting rural economy.
It was decided during the cabinet meeting that Assam Civil Service (ACS) officers would be appointed as Block Development Officers (BDO) from now onwards and CEO Zilla Parishad would be brought under Panchayat and Rural Development Department against their service being controlled by Personnel (B) Department at present, the release said.

The cabinet also decided that the Madrassa Service Rule would be approved, proposals would taken for setting up of Land Bank which would provide land to industrialists for setting up industry, besides an International Trade Centre to be set up in Guwahati, the release added.