TSPSC paper leak: IAS officer appointed CoE

HYDERABAD: The state government has appointed an IAS officer as controller of examinations (CoE) in TS Public Service Commission (TSPSC) as the first phase of reforms following the leakage of question papers. The government has created 10 posts in TSPSC to strengthen the recruitment agency for conducting the exams in a fool-proof manner.

The government on Friday issued orders appointing B.M. Santhosh as CoE, TSPSC. Santhosh, MD, Hyderabad Growth Corridor Limited (HGCL) and project director, Outer Ring Road (ORR), has been asked to report to the TSPSC immediately.

The posts that have been created include deputy CoE, assistant CoE, chief information officer, chief information security officer, senior network administrator, junior network administrator, senior programmer, junior programmer and law officer belonging to the junior civil judge cadre. The initiative is to ensure a transparent and accountable recruitment process.

Since inception in 1956, only one IAS officer has been serving the commission as secretary. The TSPSC has decided to follow the ‘Karnataka model’, which has an IAS officer as CoE and another as secretary.

The CoE plays a key role in maintaining the secrecy and confidentiality of the exam process. The lower-rung officials handle the crucial job as the secretary is busy with day-to-day administrative duties. It is believed that lack of a top-level officer to handle the exams section in TSPSC was one of the reasons for the recent scam as lower-rung employees had access to the confidential exams section.