Guwahati, Feb. 15: Gauhati High Court today stayed the recruitment of 98 constables by the Assam excise department following complaint of irregularities.

The court order has come as a setback for the state government, which has been conducting recruitment for various departments ahead of the Assembly elections likely to be held in April. A single bench of Justice Anima Hazarika stayed the recruitment process after hearing a writ petition filed by Kinkumoni Sharma, a resident of Mangaldoi in Darrang, and seven others alleging that the recruitment was being carried out without adhering to norms.

The advocate of the petitioner, Dipankar Prasad Borah, said the court, after going through the petition, issued the stay order and fixed February 25 as the next date of hearing. “The court found that the recruitment of the constables was being carried out without adhering to the Supreme Court ruling of 2007, according to which any recruitment must be done after placing advertisements in newspapers. However, the excise department sought candidates from employment exchanges. So, the court asked the department not to go ahead with the process till the case is disposed of,” he said.

The excise department started the recruitment process last year and conducted written as well as physical test but the petition (WPC 763) was filed last week at the high court alleging irregularities in the process of recruitment.

Incidentally, the excise department on Monday published the final list of candidates for appointment as constables.