Punjab CIC keen on viva voce record

Shruti Setia Chhabra ; Times of India ; Sep 8, 2010 ;

CHANDIGARH: Punjab State Information Commission is apparently keen on keeping video records of viva voce of candidates appearing before the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC). In an order passed on Tuesday, chief information commissioner Ramesh Inder Singh directed the government recruitment agency to maintain "a faithful and sincere record of what transpires in interviews of candidates".
The order states: "In the best interest of transparency and enforcement of the provisions of RTI Act, the PPSC is hereby directed, in exercise of powers conferred under Section 19 (8) and all enabling provisions of the Act, that it shall maintain the record..."

It further adds: "What we have is viva voce, which leaves no trail or record, to recall what transpired within the enclosed walls of a room. Candidates come and go, with no record of how an interview was conducted, what questions were asked, what answers were given, or how a candidate performed or was evaluated. All this is left to fickle memory; the memory of a candidate versus the memory of interviewing members. And then muck flies around, with all kind of unverifiable allegations, since the record of viva voce does not exist. What transpired in an interview vanishes with each candidate exiting the room. What is left behind is an award sheet or at best a breakup of the marks awarded to a candidate, without any supporting document or record which may disclose how the viva voce went; what transpired (therein); what questions were asked and what answers given.

"In the age of technology, when reasonably priced and easy to handle gadgets swell the marketplace, there is no reason why interview process should not be recorded for any subsequent verification, should a need arise. It will instil confidence in the entire selection process. The selection process should not only be fair but it should visibly appear to be so for everyone to see."

The commissioner's order is the fallout of a complaint by one Tarlok Singh, who had sought information from the principal information officer of PPSC regarding Dr Inderdeep Kaur Bedi, a candidate selected in the combined merit list of 212 posts of Medical Officers (general). He moved the commission after he failed to procure the information from the public information officer.