Bid to bypass rules to appoint PPSC members: Khaira

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 18

Leader of the Opposition Sukhpal Singh Khaira said today that the state government was trying to appoint six members of the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) and two RTI Commissioners without following the procedure.

Khaira said the government had adopted a “dictatorial and autocratic” approach to making constitutional appointments. He stated that the Special Secretary (Personnel) asked him a couple of days ago to append his signatures on a file mentioning the names of the PPSC members and RTI Commissioners, cleared by the Chief Minister and the Speaker.

Khaira said when he asked about the criterion followed to shortlist names for the proposed appointments, the officer offered no satisfactory reply.

The AAP leader said the government had sent the file to him after deciding the appointments, whereas rules and decency demanded that his concurrence should be taken beforehand.

Khaira urged the Chief Minister to reconsider the proposed appointments and convene a meeting with the Speaker and the Leader of the Opposition to decide afresh.