Pics: Meryick D'Silva
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (BG)

Mangalore, Jun 18: Chaos prevailed at Mangala stadium here on Wednesday June 18 during the recruitment and endurance test by Mescom for the post of assistant linemen.

It is said that Mescom had called applicants for the interview to fill 346 posts of assistant linemen. The selection process is going on in Mangalore and Shimoga.

The candidates had applied for jobs in Mescom online over two years ago. However, it is only now that they were called for the interview. The selection takes place separately under two eligibility criteria - candidates who have completed their course from a recognised ITI, and second, those with three years of lineman/eletrician trade certificates from an ITC.

On Wednesday, scores of candidates began lining up for the interview and the endurance test, from places as far as Belgaum, Raichur, Bagalkot, Bijapur, Davangere, Badami, Gangavati, Dharwad, Hubli, Keroor, Chikmagalur, apart from across Dakshina Kannada and Udupi.

However, as selection process began, the interview rejected candidates one and after another for not possessing ITC certificates. It is only then they learnt that the selection was for ITC candidates only and not for ITI.

It is said that the applicants, who had turned up in hundreds, had received calls for interview from Mescom despite having mentioned while applying online that they did not have ITC certificates. Their applications were straitghaway rejected by the interviewer.

Angered by this, the students staged a flash protest and lambasted the Mescom for having called them for interview without checking their eligibility.

They also said that under ITC, the total marks are out of 500, while in ITI it is much more. Despite this, even those who scored above 500 were called for the interview, they said.

They complained that they had waited for over two years for interview calls and spent much on travelling and stay to attend this interview. Moreover, the rejection letter carried no seal but only signature, pointed out.

Speaking to daijiworld, Parsappa, a candidate from Keroor said, "The Interview were this morning at 7.40. If I had come by the night bus I would have been late, so I came yesterday itself and stayed in a lodge here. I spent so much, and now they have rejected me."

Another candidate from Belgaum said, "We have spent Rs 25 for application, and now again on stay and other expenses. But they have rejected us and not even given a valid reason other than saying that we don't have ITC certificate. Messages regarding call for interview were sent to us three times, but they are not bothered."

Deviprasad from Puttur and Ajith from Beltangady had similar woes to share. Ajith said that he did not even get a rejection letter but was only rejected orally.

"When we demanded to know the reason for this mess, they said it was because of a server problem. Some have been given rejection letters, while other have not," they said.

Speaking to daijiworld, U B Sukumar, senior engineer of Mescom and president of assistant lineman endurance test committee said only ITC candidates were called and not ITI as alleged. The selection and endurance tests started five days ago in Mangalore and Shimoga, and the interviews were held as per notification.

"ITI and ITC have seprate reservations, and today the selection was for ITC candidates. ITI candidates also applied online but we no option to check that given the large number of applications we receive," he said.

About the absence of seal in rejection letters, he said they are written on printed letterheads with his signature as he is president of candidate selection committee, and hence there was no need for a seal.