Demand for filing offline applications in remote areas of Kangra, Chamba grows

Youth from far-flung areas of the Kangra and Chamba district have demanded that they should be allowed to apply for the posts of constable advertised by the Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (HPPSC) through the offline mode. As the HPPSC had allowed only online applications for the posts, many candidates have failed to apply on time due to technical glitches and mobile phone or Internet problems in their areas.

Though the HPPSC has extended the last date for submitting applications for recruitment to the posts from October 31 to November 12, the demand for allowing applications in the offline mode persists. Many aspirants have alleged that they could not file applications for the posts of constable on time due to a weak telecom network in their area.

Chief whip of the Congress in the state Assembly and Shahpur MLA Kewal Singh Pathania has come in support of the candidates who are demanding that they be allowed to file applications in the offline mode also. While talking to The Tribune, Pathania said many youths from his constituency had approached him and demanded the offline mode of submitting applications. “There are many areas, like Dhar Kandi, in my constituency, where the telecom network is very weak or non-existent. The youth preparing for constable recruitment in these areas have approached me and demanded that they should be allowed to apply for the posts of constable in the offline mode,” he added.

Pathania said he had taken up the issue of the extension of the last date for applying for the posts of constable with Chief Minister and HPPSC Chairman. “I thank the Chief Minister that the last date has been extended to November 12. However, I am still of the view that the youth should be given an option to apply in the offline mode also. They should be allowed to apply offline at the offices of SPs. In future, the government must give the option of filing applications offline as well,” he added.