Shimla, Sept 21
The State Congress unit today lashed out Jai Ram Thakur Government for the alleged violation of Supreme Court guidelines in the appointment of the chairman and members of the Public Service Commission. Chairman of the law department of Himachal Congress Committee, I N Mehta said that norms were defied by the Jairam Thakur rule as the appointment of the chairman and members of the Public Service Commission violated the directions of the Supreme Court.
He said that on February 15, 2013, the Supreme Court had issued guidelines regarding appointments in the Public Service Commission in the State of Punjab vs Salil Sablok case. In this it was made clear how the appointment of the chairman and members should be done under Article 316 of the Constitution. But BJP rule rode over these guide lines, he alleged.
He said that the government first notified the appointments of Commission chairman and three members in the dark of night, however, in a short time withdrew notification or oath fixed for the next morning. Afterwards, the government issued a new notification regarding the appointments of the chairman and members.
Here, Mehta questioned the government on the number of applications received for the post of chairman and members as per the process laid in the apex court directions. He also questioned the need of the government to make such hurried appointments.
He added that the Jairam government has no hold on the officials. That’s why the government is changing the officers day by day. The situation is that the government has kept three officers of the level of Chief Secretary as consultants without work. Senior IAS officers have openly opposed the appointment of junior officer as chief secretary. A senior official has raised questions on the functioning of the government by writing a letter to the Governor and the Chief Minister.
Mehta also accused Jairam govt of being involved in scams. The police constable paper was leaked and sold for Rs 6 to 7 lakhs, he stated. This includes people from the government and police departments. The government is saving the big crocodiles and the officials, by doing a cover-up. In HPU, 200 posts of teachers were filled with people from BJP and the Sangh by defying UGC rules. The youth who came in merit were thrown out, he rued.
Many other big scams also emerged during the time of this BJP government, he stated. The then State president of BJP had to resign from his post due to the PPP kit scam during the Corona period. In the charge-sheet of this case, the real accused were kept out deliberately, accused Mehta.
Adding to the series of allegations he added that the fake degree case came to the fore during the time of the BJP regime. Its investigation was also being covered up. He said that in the matter only 22 FIRs were registered against only one university, while no action was taken against other universities.
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