Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday firmly stated that the recent Gauhati High Court ruling in connection with the Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) cash-for-jobs scam does not direct the reinstatement of any of the dismissed officers implicated in the case. Speaking at a press conference in Guwahati, the Chief Minister said, “We examined the High Court order yesterday. There is no instruction for reinstating the officers. The court has only directed the government to issue discharge orders without referring to the APSC scam.” He clarified that the court’s suggestion was to remove the “stigmatic” nature of the dismissal letters, which will now cite “unsatisfactory performance” as the official reason instead of direct reference to the corruption scandal.
The clarification comes amid speculation that some dismissed officers might be returning to service. Sarma categorically stated that the verdict effectively “closes all doors” for reinstatement, though it does allow the discharged officers to seek employment elsewhere using a less damaging service record. However, the Chief Minister pointed out a separate ruling in the case of Assam Police Service (APS) officers who were still under probation when dismissed. In these instances, the High Court directed the government to temporarily reinstate them, conduct departmental inquiries within three months, and then take a final decision on their status. “It is not reinstatement in the true sense—it is a temporary return pending due process,” Sarma explained. He also said that the state government is considering approaching the Supreme Court to challenge the portion of the High Court’s verdict related to the APS officers. “We are examining the legal grounds for moving the apex court,” he added.
The APSC scam, which erupted in 2016, exposed a major recruitment scandal where jobs in the civil service were allegedly sold for cash. Over 70 individuals, including the then APSC chairman Rakesh Kumar Paul, were arrested during the probe. Among them were 57 civil servants who had already secured appointments in various government departments through fraudulent means.Sarma said that while some of the dismissed officers may still try to seek relief from the Supreme Court, the High Court’s recent judgment offers no significant reprieve or scope for returning to government service.