Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday announced a major change in the police verification process for government service appointments, aimed at reducing delays between selection and joining for thousands of job aspirants.
In a post on X, CM Sarma said police verification would no longer hold up the appointment of candidates selected for government jobs, describing the move as a step towards making the transition from selection to government service “simpler and faster”.
Under the streamlined process, police verification relating to a candidate’s character, antecedents, nationality and genuineness of documents will have to be completed within six months.
The government has also decided that if the verification process is not completed within the stipulated six-month period, the candidate’s records will be deemed to have been cleared.
CM Sarma said candidates would be allowed to join government service by submitting a notarised affidavit while the police verification process is still pending. The move is expected to benefit candidates who often face delays in receiving appointment orders or joining government service because of pending verification procedures.
“Police verification will no longer hold up appointments,” the Chief Minister said, while addressing the young people preparing to begin their careers in government service.
The verification process is generally intended to establish the character and antecedents of candidates and verify their nationality and the authenticity of documents submitted during recruitment.
The latest decision seeks to ensure that administrative delays in completing the verification process do not unnecessarily prevent selected candidates from taking up their posts.
The Assam government has in recent years focused on expediting recruitment and appointment processes for government jobs, with the state conducting large-scale recruitment drives across various departments.
The decision comes at a time when government employment remains highly sought after among young people in Assam, where recruitment examinations often attract a large number of applicants.
The Chief Minister’s announcement is likely to provide relief to successful candidates who have completed the recruitment process but are awaiting formal appointment or joining because of pending police verification.
The government has stressed that the verification itself will continue, but its pendency beyond six months will no longer prevent eligible candidates from entering service.
(IANS)
