Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 27: The Governor N NVohra on Friday officially rejected the 7-member panel appointed by the erstwhile National Conference-Congress regime to run the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission, state's premiere recruitment agency.
Pertinently, the Cabinet had approved appointment of Khurshid Ahmad Ganaie, IAS, Financial Commissioner, Industries & Commerce Department, J&K, as Chairman JKPSC, Sheikh Mushtaq Ahmad, IAS, Secretary to the Government, Higher Education Department, Mukherjeet Sharma, IFS (rtd), BR Lachotra, Director General, Economics & Statistics (std), Wali Mohammad Bhat, Director General, Accounts & Treasuries (Retired), DrTejit Singh, Prof Ophthalmology (Retired) and DrFarooq Ahmad Kaloo, Director, Animal Husbandry (Retired) as members of the Commission.
The Governor cited many reasons for turning down the panel which was chosen by the erstwhile NC- Cong regime.
In a statement here a Raj Bahavan spokesman said: "Governor has laid down a clear framework for the appointment of Chairman and Members of the Public Service Commission (PSC)."
"Arising from the erstwhile Coalition Government's recommendations, which were not found acceptable for several reasons, the Governor had directed the Chief Secretary to draw up a draft framework for the selection and appointment of the Chairman and Members of the PSC. In this context, the Governor had also discussed this important matter with the Chief Secretary earlier this year," he said.
The Governor had stressed the need for a transparent framework being put in place which would permit only competent, honest and well respected persons being appointed as Members and Chairperson of the PSC.
"The Governor's concern arose from the nature of the recommendations made by the Coalition Government for the appointment of Members; even the basic facts about the past service, performance and property records were not available with the State Government in respect of some of the persons recommended to the Governor," the spokesman added.
The framework laid down by the Governor envisages a Search Committee chaired by the Chief Secretary which shall prepare an adequately large panel, keeping in view the number of vacancies which require to be filled in the PSC. It is stipulated that the names of only such persons can be included in the panels who are known for their competence and proven ability, honesty, objectivity and high integrity, who command the confidence of the people and would not be deflected by any extraneous considerations from discharging their duty of making selections which are based strictly on merit.
The Governor has been seriously concerned about the need to ensure that the PSC functions effectively and maintains a high reputation for its integrity.
"He (Governor) had addressed the former Chief Minister in this regard, pointing out that any malfunctioning of the PSC would result in the erosion of the high standards which must apply to the selection of the best available candidates for manning posts in the various departments of the Government. It was noted that any deficiencies in the PSC's functioning shall result in demoralizing meritorious youth who aspire to be selected to the various services. It was in this background that, keeping in view the inadequate credentials of several candidates and the fact that no process of selection had been followed, the Governor had refused to accept the recommendations forwarded to him by the erstwhile government," he said.
"The framework which has now been laid down envisages a meticulous inquiry into the past background and public reputation of all the potential candidates, taking into account the record of their performance in service, properties held etc and identifying only persons of proven integrity," the spokesman said.
Pertinently, Early Times was the first news paper in Jammu and Kashmir which had reported in September last year that NC-Cong government has played a parting shot ahead of assembly elections by indulging in favoritism while appointing the new JKPSC panel. This newspaper had even highlighted the "doubtful credentials" of a few members whom the previous cabinet had recommended.
The Governor had taken the cognizance of the new reports which appeared in the Early Times and did not give his assent to the recommendations which were forwarded by the cabinet headed by the former chief minister Omar Abdullah.
The Governor rejecting the 7-member PSC panel recommended by the erstwhile Omar Abdullah regime has vindicated the stories which appeared in this newspaper. |
