Orissa: 15 youth attempt self-immolation

At least 15 job aspirants, including five girls, on Friday attempted self-immolation in front of Raj Bhavan here for “inordinate” delay of over 10 years in recruiting them as constables.

The youth first assembled in front of Raj Bhawan under Surya Nagar area and doused themselves with kerosene. Personnel from the Capital police station prevented them from committing such act and rushed them to the hospital where they were detained for some time.

The aggrieved students resorted to the extreme step after their repeated pleas fell on deaf ears despite a high court order to appoint them in the state police.

“Despite the Orissa high court order and our names finding place in the merit list, we are not getting jobs. How long can we fight court cases We have exhausted money in paying fee to the lawyers,” said the candidates.

The state government had invited applications in December 2006 for filling up of 2,605 vacancies in the rank of sepoys in the State Armed Police Battalions and constables in various districts. Under the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) category, appointments were done against 27 per cent of the posts instead of the 11.25 per cent quota earmarked for them.

The appointments were challenged in the high court in December 2011 and the court quashed the 15.75 per cent excess quota in SEBC category. Besides, the court directed for redrawing of fresh merit list to fill up the unreserved posts that were diverted for the purpose. Following the court decision, counter petitions were filed by those already appointed in excess quota seeking protection of their service.

Hearing the pleas, the court had directed the state government in August 2012 to prepare a fresh merit list after excluding the SEBC emp-loyees who were given appointments in excess of quota reserved for them.