History of HPRCA
The history of the Himachal Pradesh Rajya Chayan Aayog (HPRCA), located in Hamirpur, has undergone significant structural changes since its inception originally established to streamline the recruitment of Group C posts, its history is marked to its evolution from a Subordinate Services Board to a full commission, and eventually its recent ultimate dissolution in 2023 following one of the largest paper-leak scandals in the state's history.
1. Establishment and Early Years (1998):
The body was first established as the Himachal Pradesh Subordinate Services Selection Board (HPSSSB) on October 6,1998.
NOTE : Its first Chairman was Mr. K.C. Malhotra & its first secretary was Sh. Nirmal Singh.
Purpose: It was created by the state government as a government body for the recruitment of Class III (Group C) non-gazetted posts except for the posts which are falling vacant in Vidhan Sabha, HP High Court and HPPSC.
Location: Hamirpur was chosen as the headquarter to decentralize administrative power from the capital, Shimla.
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2. Elevation to a Commission (2016):
For nearly two decades, it functioned as a Board. However, in 2016, the state government upgraded its status to a Commission on recomendation of "Sanan Committee", officially renaming its the Himachal Pradesh Staff Selection Commission (HPSSC) to better reflect its status as a commission rather than just a board.
Reason of Re-constitution in 2016: Due to allegations of irregularities and questions regarding the integrity and credibility of the previous board, the state government dissolved it.
Role: Role: For over two decades, it was the central hub for recruiting clerks, Junior Office Assistants (JOA), Junior Engineers, and other technical staff.
3. Dissolution and Suspension(2022-23):
It was discovered that there were leakages in many of the papers (specifically the JOA (IT) exam) conducted by the commission, due to which the work of the commission was stopped and an investigation was started. The commission's reputation collapsed in late 2022 when a massive recruitment scam was unearthed by the State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau.
Suspension: On December 26, 2022, the state government suspended the functioning of the commission.
Dissolution: On February 21, 2023, Chief Minister Sh. Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu officially dissolved the HPSSC.
4. The New Era: HP Rajya Chayan Aayog (2023–Present):
In late 2023, the government announced the formation of a new body to replace the defunct HPSSC, name the Himachal Pradesh Rajya Chayan Aayog (HPRCA).
Formation: On September 30, 2023, the Himachal Pradesh Rajya Chayan Aayog (HPRCA) was constituted.
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Focus: Shifting away from physical OMR sheets to minimize human interference. Stricter "Secrecy Branch" protocols and a rotating staff policy.
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