Citizen Action Party flags ‘crisis of trust’ in Sikkim’s recruitment system

A political row over recruitment in Sikkim intensified on December 5 as the Citizen Action Party (Sikkim) staged a demonstration in Gangtok, alleging that the state’s recent recruitment examinations have damaged public confidence and left job-seekers questioning the integrity of the Sikkim Public Service Commission (SPSC).

 

The protest centred on concerns triggered by the Sub-Inspector recruitment results declared on November 26, which the party said had prompted a surge of complaints from candidates. According to party leaders, the results followed a familiar pattern of controversy around SPSC examinations over the past few years.

 

A party leader addressing the gathering said the recurring disputes over exams for posts including Accounts Officer, Under Secretary and Deputy Superintendent of Police have created a perception that the recruitment system is compromised. He noted previous allegations involving delayed results, irregularities and reported paper leaks. The leader also highlighted that a major examination originally scheduled for 2022 only saw its results published in 2024, shortly after state elections, adding to public suspicion.

 

The party claimed that several candidates selected for Sub-Inspector posts have direct political links, describing some as ruling-party workers or individuals employed informally by senior political figures. This, they argued, has fuelled distrust among aspirants who now doubt whether their performance alone determines outcomes.

 

According to the party, many aspirants are reluctant to come forward publicly, fearing that speaking out might affect their prospects in upcoming examinations for posts such as Under Secretary, Accounts Officer or Forest Block Officer. Party representatives described what they see as a climate in which candidates worry about government pressure or repercussions for criticising the process.

 

Leaders insisted that the protest was not an attempt to gain political mileage but an effort to amplify the concerns of candidates who feel unable to voice them. They argued that the silence of aspirants reflects shrinking democratic space rather than confidence in the authorities.

 

The party demanded the resignation of the SPSC chairman and secretary on moral grounds, citing repeated dissatisfaction among candidates with examinations conducted during their tenure. They noted that the secretary has been re-employed multiple times and that the chairman previously served on the Commission before his elevation.

 

According to the party, voluntary resignations would mark only the beginning of corrective action. They said they intend to approach the court seeking a stay on the Sub-Inspector recruitment process and a wider review to restore credibility to the system.

 

Responding to questions about the absence of aspirants at the protest, the party maintained that the opposition has a responsibility to raise issues of fairness and that candidates will speak up when they feel safe to do so.