An unscheduled meeting with Chief Adviser Dr Fakruddin Ahmed in chair scrutinised the emerging irregularities in the 27th BCS, especially in the viva voce, and approved a proposal for the PSC to cancel the viva voce.

"The meeting took the decision after reviewing newspaper reports and various allegations about the 27th BCS examination in order to restore confidence in public mind and establish transparency in the recruiting process for public jobs," a government handout said.

Of over 1.43 lakh examinees at the preliminary test held on November 18, 2005, some 26,500 candidates took the written examinations held in March-April, 2006, and 16,342 candidates attended the viva voce held between September and December the same year.

Most of the leading newspapers had published reports on the irregularities of PSC on several occasions, especially about leakage of question papers, and corruption centring the viva voce.

In the face of widespread media reporting and claims by examinees, the PSC held the 27th BCS examination.

A recent investigation by an intelligence agency also found irregularities in the 27th BCS and finally the caretaker government postponed its medical test in the midway on April 18. The medical test of the 27th BCS started on April 7 and it was scheduled to complete on April 29.

The viva voce was grossly used to pick certain candidates while disqualifying others. The viva voce for 100 marks usually adds with total marks of written examinations. As the pass mark in the viva voce is 40, a candidate getting below it in the viva voce disqualifies for the selection even if they score highest marks in the written examinations.

A large number of candidates who scored well in the written examinations were allegedly given below 40 marks in the viva voce, which were published in different dailies.

Saadat Hussain, who on May 9 assumed the post of PSC chairman after expiry of the five-year term Prof ZN Tahmida Begum, took the allegations against the 27th BCS seriously and discussed the issue with academicians, newsmen, PSC officials and several successful and unsuccessful candidates.

He sent recommendations to the government for necessary steps about the 27th BCS.

Asked for comment about the cancellation of the viva voce result of the 27th BCS, PSC member Latifur Rahman said, "I will not reply to any question as I am not concerned with the matter."

"I appreciate the government decision as the viva voce of 27th BCS was controversial. I think the decision will end the controversy," former chairman of the University Grants Commission Prof M Asaduzzaman said.

Successful candidates of written examinations who were not finally selected, expressed satisfaction over the government decision while the examinees who passed the viva voce expressed dissatisfaction.