Govt recruitment stopped after corruption complaints

Ruchika M Khanna

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Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 19

The state government has stopped recruitment in all departments following large-scale complaints of corruption and irregularities in the recruitment process being conducted for it by Panjab University.

In an order issued by the Department of General Administration, the heads of all departments, commissioners in divisions, deputy commissioners and chairmen and managing directors of the boards and corporations have been asked to “put on hold all ongoing recruitments being conducted by Panjab University”. Even in cases where written tests have been conducted, the departments have been told not to declare results or issue appointment letters.

The decision comes at a time when the Akali-BJP government in the state is trying to woo the youth ahead of the 2017 Assembly elections by recruiting 1.13 lakh persons in various government departments.

The government engaged the University Institute of Applied Management and Sciences in 2008 for conducting recruitments for it. Though the posts of teacher in the Education Department and those of doctor in the Health Department or in the state’s allied services were not to be filled through the institute, most other recruitments were being done through it. At present, the institute is in the process of recruiting patwaris, panchayat secretaries and employees in Markfed and Milkfed.

The order issued by the government says there were many complaints regarding the recruitment being conducted by Panjab University.

Institute’s coordinator Pradeep Sharma said he was unaware of any such government order. “We have not received any communication, so far. But the institute’s working is totally transparent and there is no question of any nepotism in the recruitment process,” he said.

Though the government order does not detail the complaints received, sources said the Chief Minister’s Office had received a number of complaints where those who had topped the written tests had not even been called for the interview. There were also complaints that touts operating in some districts had been offering “sure appointment” to candidates.