SC favours videography of selection process for public posts

The Supreme Court today favoured videography of the selection process conducted for public posts, especially by the state public service commissions and the state selection boards, to maintain "purity" of the entire exercise.

In an order having a far-reaching impact, the apex court also said that CCTV cameras should be installed at the examination and interview centres and their footage may be examined by an independent committee of three members.

"We are of the view that for the purity of selection to the public posts, it is desirable that as far as possible the selection process conducted by the selection bodies, especially the state public service commissions and the state selection boards, is videographed," a bench of justices Adarsh Kumar Goel and Rohinton Fali Nariman said.

"It is desirable that at the examination centres as well as the interview centres, CCTV cameras are installed to the extent viable. Footage thereof may be seen by an independent committee of three members and the report of such a committee may be placed on the website concerned," the court said.

The bench directed the apex court registry to send a copy of its order to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) for being forwarded to the authorities concerned for compliance.

The court's order came while hearing a matter relating to Meghalaya.

It observed that there were "serious irregularities" in the selection process for appointment of assistant teachers in government lower primary schools in the state.