Students and jobseekers block MPSC office, call for recruitment reforms
Aizawl: Hundreds of members of the Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP) on Monday staged a demonstration outside the Mizoram Public Service Commission (MPSC) office in Aizawl, demanding administrative reforms, additional manpower and changes to the recruitment process, the Press Trust of India reported.
The protesters picketed the MPSC premises and prevented officers and staff from entering the office. The demonstration was largely peaceful, though a brief scuffle occurred when officials attempted to access the building, the PTI report said.
Main demands and the MPSC response
The student organisation sought a package of changes aimed at restoring confidence among applicants after what it described as repeated administrative shortcomings during recent recruitments. Key demands included:
- Scrapping the One Time Registration (OTR) system and replacing it with need-based, post-specific application forms.
- Allowing a one-time offline document submission for candidates rejected due to incomplete OTR uploads, particularly those who had cleared written examinations but were disqualified at document verification.
- Structural reforms and additional manpower to strengthen the commission’s functioning, efficiency and credibility.
MZP president Dr C Lalremruata was reported as saying the organisation would intensify agitation until their demands were met, according to PTI. The organisation attributes declining trust among jobseekers to what it sees as administrative lapses in recent recruitment exercises.
"MPSC is not trying to create difficulties for job applicants, but is trying to make the recruitment process fair, transparent, efficient and as permitted by law," the commission said in an official notice released on Monday, PTI reported.
The commission defended the One Time Registration mechanism, saying it was introduced to simplify applications, reduce repetitive data entry and ensure fairness. MPSC officials argued that OTR allows candidates to enter personal details and upload essential documents once, with the information retrievable for subsequent job applications, and that the system is widely used by State Public Service Commissions across the country.
Points of contention
The dispute centres on whether OTR has created barriers for some candidates — especially those who allegedly lost candidature due to incomplete uploads — and whether reverting to post-specific forms or permitting one-time offline submissions would address such problems without creating new issues.
| Issue | MZP position | MPSC position |
|---|---|---|
| OTR system | Should be scrapped; replaced by post-specific forms | Should be retained; simplifies process and ensures fairness |
| Rejected candidates | One-time offline submission for those rejected over incomplete uploads | Not acceptable to introduce offline submissions; termination of OTR may create new problems |
| Commission staffing | Additional manpower needed | Response not detailed in PTI report beyond defending OTR |
In its notice, the commission said: "MZP's request to end the OTR and issue specific application forms for each job vacancy is not acceptable to the MPSC." The notice added that terminating the OTR was more likely to create new problems than solve existing ones, the PTI report stated.
Local implications and next steps
The protest highlights friction between a major student body and the state recruitment agency that directly affects local jobseekers in Mizoram. If the agitation continues, it could disrupt scheduled recruitment timelines and verification processes conducted by the commission.
The PTI report did not detail any immediate concessions by the MPSC or an agreed timeline for talks with the MZP. The student organisation's pledge to escalate the agitation suggests further demonstrations or shutdowns may follow unless mediation or a review of procedures is initiated.
Further developments, including any official meetings, orders or changes to the OTR process, will be decisive for candidates awaiting recruitment outcomes in the state.
