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Pradeep Sharma
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, June 12
The Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC), which has become a parking place for rejected politicians and government’s favourites over the years, today got a “saffron touch” with the government appointing two members. One of the appointees is Vandana Sharma, sister of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.
Besides Sharma, Kulbir Chhikkara, chief editor of a vernacular newspaper, was administered oath of office and secrecy by Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki at the Haryana Raj Bhawan here today. The newspaper is owned by Finance Minister Capt Abhimanyu.
Sharma, who was given the ticket to contest the Assembly elections in October 2014 from Safidon in Jind district over senior BJP leaders, had lost to an Independent candidate Jasbir Deswal.
The Cabinet, at a meeting under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, recently increased the strength of the HPSC from seven to nine members, including the chairman. At present, the commission has four members, besides the chairman.
The increase in the number of members of the commission, which makes appointments to gazetted posts, including the prestigious Haryana Civil Services (HCS), is being seen as a “balancing act” by the BJP government which wanted its “own members” in the commission.
At present, the commission is filled with Congress appointees, raising a question mark over its impartially in conducting the examinations. In fact, transparency in government job recruitments was one of the poll promises of the BJP in the parliamentary and Assembly elections last year.
Chairman Manbir Singh Bhadana is considered close to certain Congress leaders, while incumbent member Neelam Singh from Bhiwani is the wife of Sandeep Singh, a Congress leader. Rajesh Vaid (Sirsa) has been a Congress leader for long.
Savita Tayal, an educationist, is the wife of ML Tayal, former Principal Secretary to former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda. Surender Sharma is reportedly an old associate of Hooda.
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