MARGAO
As the stage is finally set for the long-delayed examinations for the 147 posts of Jr Stenographers, LDCs, Talathis and Multi-Tasking Staff beginning from September 29, don’t be surprised if candidates well beyond 45 years too answer the skill/written tests alongside other candidates.
In fact, the doors of the examination centres will be thrown open for all eligible candidates, including those nearing 50 years, in the case of general category. The same holds good for candidates belonging to the OBC and ST communities, eligible for age relaxation.
Reason: The over four-year long delay in conducting the written/skill tests by the South Goa district authorities isn’t going to affect the prospects of candidates, who have crossed the age of 45 years and are now in their late 40s, in answering the ensuing examinations.
For, laid down rules and guidelines based on various High Court and Supreme Court rulings suggest that notification calling for the recruitment is taken as the date to ascertain the candidates’ age and not the day on which the examination is finally conducted. In the instant case, the advertisement inviting applications from eligible candidates was issued on January 24, 2019 followed by the process setting time frame for the candidates to submit the applications.
In fact, when the South Goa district Collectorate set in motion the process to send postal intimations to the candidates intimating the dates of the written examination/skill test and to download the admit cards, the intimation has been sent to all candidates, including those who have already crossed the age of 45.
Some of the candidates, who had called up the office of the district Collector seeking clarity on the age factor, have been already briefed by the officials that the age factor will not come in the way of candidates from the general category if they have crossed 45 years of age.
‘There’s a general laid down principle that age factor will not affect the prospects of a candidate in the event there’s a delay on the part of the authorities in conducting the examinations. There are various High Court and Supreme Court rulings suggesting that the candidates will not be adversely affected if the examinations are not held on time. In such case, the date on which the recruitment notification is issued is taken into consideration and not the time when the examination is conducted”, informed a senior official in the South district Collectorate.
He added: “Given that the examination for the 147 posts is being conducted after over four-year long delay, a candidate from the general category who has completed 45 years as on date will not be barred from answering the written/skill tests since he had applied for the posts when he was well within the prescribed age limit”.
The official, however, told The Goan that the number of candidates, who have crossed the age bar technically, may not be many, compared to the thousands of job seekers who have applied for the jobs.
“We have sent intimations to all the eligible candidates by various modes, including post, e-mails, SMS messages and by calling personally over the phone. Those who have called up the office seeking clarity on the age bar has been explained the exact legal position that the age factor does not affect the job seekers if they had applied for the posts when they were below 45 years of age”, an official informed.
