Mangalore: The recruitment procedure held at Mangala stadium by Mescom for the post of assistant linemen turned frenzied on Wednesday June 18, after the candidates learnt that the selection process had clichés in it.

Mescom had called applicants for interview to fill 346 posts of assistant linemen, the selection process has been held at Mangalore and Shimoga.

The candidates had applied for jobs in Mescom online over two years ago, thus candidates piled on from Belgaum, Raichur, Bagalkot, Bijapur, Davangere, Badami, Gangavati, Dharwad, Hubli, Keroor, Chikmagalur, apart from across Dakshina Kannada and Udupi.

Under two eligibility criteria the candidates were selected, who have completed their course from a recognized ITI, and second, those with three years of lineman/electrician trade certificates from an ITC. However, as selection process began, the interview rejected candidates one and after another for not possessing ITC certificates. It is only then they learnt that the selection was for ITC candidates only and not for ITI.

It is said that the applicants, who had turned up in hundreds, had received calls for interview from Mescom despite having mentioned while applying online that they did not have ITC certificates.

Their applications were rejected by the interviewer which in-turn angered the students. The students there and then held a flash protest against the Mescom for having called them for interview without checking their eligibility.

They also said that under ITC, the total marks are out of 500, while in ITI it is much more. Despite this, even those who scored above 500 were called for the interview, they said.

The frustrated students said that they had waited for over two years for interview calls and spent much on travelling and stay to attend this interview.