Goalpara, Oct 19: Allegations of irregularities in the shortlisting of candidates for the posts of Chairperson and members of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) and social worker members of the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) in Goalpara district have surfaced.
Some aggrieved applicants have alleged that deserving candidates have been left out during the preliminary scrutiny despite possessing higher qualifications and considerable experience in the relevant fields.
Speaking to this correspondent, some aggrieved candidates alleged that the shortlisting process have not been conducted in a fair and transparent manner. They claimed that several applicants with substantial experience in child welfare and related fields, along with higher educational qualifications, were excluded from the shortlist, while candidates allegedly having comparatively lower qualifications and less experience were included.
They informed that the State Child Protection Society, Assam, had issued an advertisement on June 23, 2026, inviting applications for appointments to vacant and likely-to-fall-vacant posts in CWCs and JJBs in various districts of the State. The last date for submission of applications was July 10, 2026 and as per the advertisement, Goalpara district has one vacancy for CWC Chairperson and three vacancies for CWC members, besides two social worker positions in the JJB, including one reserved for a female candidate.
The aggrieved applicants further alleged that certain shortlisted candidates might not fulfil the district-specific eligibility criteria prescribed in the advertisement. Clause 4(iv) clearly states that only candidates from the concerned district where the vacancy exists are eligible to apply.
Also, they raised concerns over the alleged inclusion of candidates who may have associations or professional engagements that could lead to a conflict of interest.
Significantly, the advertisement also empowers the State Level Selection Committee to reject recommendations made by the district-level committee and to review its own recommendations if complaints are received.