Why no job letter sent in 30 yrs?

The Central Information Commission has sought an explanation from the Delhi Employment Exchange for not sending any interview call letter to a job seeker who had applied for the post of a clerk nearly three decades ago.

Ashok Sharma, who had registered himself with the Employment Exchange in 1981 for the position of general clerk, used the transparency law to seek reasons from the government department for not sending any job calls "even after 27 long years".

"The Employment exchange only sponsors the names of the candidates as per the demand of the employees on the basis of seniority," the exchange had said in its reply to Sharma, adding "no one can be held responsible in view of this reply."

Not getting satisfactory response from the Directorate of Employment, Delhi Government, he appealed before the Central Information Commission.

"The PIO is directed to inform the appellant if any requirements of general clerk were received by the employment exchange. If such requirements have been received and others have been sent, the PIO will give any information on record as to why the appellant's name was not suggested," Information Commissioner Shailesh Gandhi said.

The Commissioner said, for a person registered with the employment exchange it is "reasonable for him to assume that he would at least be sent for some positions".

"If a person who registers for the post of General Clerk does not get a single call in 27 years he certainly deserves an explanation. If the employment exchange states that they did not receive any requirements for General Clerk for 27 years, this should be stated. It would of course lead citizens to question when the employment exchange fulfils any role at all," Gandhi said.