BSSC question paper leak: Won't obey verbal orders even from CM Nitish Kumar, say Bihar bureaucrats

Patna: The bureaucrats of Bihar have said that that they will not obey any verbal orders from anyone unless it is in writing.

They have said that they will not obey verbal orders even from Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. 

The declaration came at a meeting of the IAS officers' association held on February 24 in the backdrop of the arrest of a senior official, Sudhir Kumar (chairman of the Bihar Staff Selection Commission) in the question paper leak case.

The resolution said, "It has also resolved that all further verbal instructions from any high office including the office of the CM shall not be complied with unless given in writing," as per PTI.

They have also demanded a CBI inquiry into the probe.

"The CBI will be in a better position to independently establish the links beyond the officials as repeated reports have suggested interference and/or patronage of persons with clout," according to the resolution.

As per the association, Sudhir, a 1987 batch IAS officer, has been framed.

The officers added that they will not accept the post of chairman of any recruitment board.

Meanwhile, today, extraordinary general body meeting of association was attended by 110 officers in which they also demanded Kumar's immediate release, Association's Bihar Branch Treasurer and IAS Officer Dipak Kumar Singh said.

At the same time, the IAS Officers' Association today met Bihar Governor Ram Nath Kovind and submitted a resolution demanding a CBI probe.

The clerical-grade recruitment examination had taken place in June.

He was arrested from Hazaribagh by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) set up to probe the paper leak scam and is currently in Patna's Phulwarisharif jail.

Along with Sudhir, five others were also arrested.

"Kumar was arrested by the SIT on the basis of concrete evidence of his role in the entire matter of the paper leak," Patna Zonal Inspector General of Police (IGP) NH Khan had said then.

On the other hand, Patna Senior Superintendent of Police Manu Maharaj, heading the SIT, had told reporters that his arrest was made only after acquiring warrant from court.

The SSP had claimed that there were enough material evidence to prove that the BSSC chairman helped some family members who had appeared in the commission's exam for recruitment of clerks in the state government and also for monetary benefits.

(With PTI inputs)