The Sikkim government on Monday constituted a high-powered committee under an additional chief secretary to inquire into alleged irregularities committed in the Sikkim services (combined recruitment) preliminary examination that had been held on January 16.

A notice issued by the department of personnel said the five-member panel headed by additional chief secretary Ravindra Telang would include Akshay Sachdeva, special director general of police (law and order); Rinzing Chewang Bhutia, secretary of the department of personnel; Tashi Cho Cho, secretary of the home department; and Tushar Gajanan Nikhare, district magistrate of Gangtok, as members.

The notification said the terms of reference of the committee would be to examine in detail the representations on alleged malpractices that were said to have occurred while conducting the examination.

“The Committee shall inter-alia, investigate the veracity of complaints and alleged irregularities in the conduct of the examination. The Committee shall call for records/ documents from the State Government or the Sikkim Public Service Commission, which it may deem necessary to carry out the investigation in an effective manner,” said the notice.

The panel has also been tasked to suggest appropriate measures for streamlining the conduct of the examination if any.

“The Committee shall co-opt services of any other officer of the Government, if deemed necessary. The High Powered Committee shall submit its report within 21 (twenty-one) days of issue of this notification,” said the notification signed by chief secretary V.B. Pathak.

The decision of the government to set up the committee comes in the wake of howls of protest led by the students’ wing of the Sikkim Democratic Front over numerous irregularities allegedly committed by the SPSC in the conduct of the examination for 62 posts, including 30 of accounts officers, 18 of under-secretaries and 14 of deputy superintendents of police.