Over 900 job aspirants who appeared for the exams for posts in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) as deputy accountants and computer operators suffered high anxiety before the online test held here on Tuesday. Despite reaching an hour before the 3 p.m. exam, they were made to run for hard copies of their identity proof after a sudden demand for it was made over the public address system by the security personnel at the centre.
Of the 1,970 candidates issued hall tickets for the test, only 923 appeared, resulting in hundreds of candidates lining up outside the only two photocopier shops near the exam centre. Around 30 candidates were unable to appear, caught at the wrong end of the serpentine queues.The exams were coordinated by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS). Online exams were held simultaneously at centres in Nagpur, Pune and Navi Mumbai.
MMRDA administrative officer Dilip Kawathkar said, “We will ask TCS about why hard copies of the ID proof were sought, as this is nowhere mandated in the MOU between TCS and MMRDA.”
The TCS venue head, Pranati Ubale said, “I kept requesting the MMRDA staff officer Sunandha Pede to address the concerns of the candidates but she insisted that she was an independent observer and could not interfere in the entry and exit process. We had to face derisive comments and demands to meet with MMRDA higher ups after the candidates were denied entry for being late.”
Ms. Pede said, “I was at the second floor committee room and unaware of any such PAS advisory. The TCS staff informed me about the situation late and I promptly called up administrative officer Devram Patole for instructions. I was asked not to interfere in the process contracted to TCS. Ms. Ubale was very clear that the hall ticket clearly stated that entry would be barred after 2.40 p.m.”
