The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) unit in Punjab has requested the Governor VP Singh Badnore to restrain Captain Amarinder Singh-led Congress government in the state from allegedly unconstitutionally appointing six Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) members and two RTI Commissioners by violating all norms, rules and procedures.

In a letter written to Badnore seeking his intervention into the said matter, Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Punjab Assembly, Sukhpal Singh Khaira has accused the state government of trying to bypass the rules and procedure so that the ruling party could go ahead without being transparent and fair in the matter . Khaira said that the procedure for these appointments required consultation of the LoP, and thus he was approached by the Special Secretary, Personnel Department in this regard, however, the official failed to give any satisfactory reply when asked about the criteria adopted to shortlist the names of said appointments.

This showed casual and indifferent approach of the Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh while making appointments to such important offices, which are supposed to render justice, Khaira added.

He said, “The PPSC plays very crucial role as it selects the officers of the state government who for the next several years would remain in public service. In the past too PPSC was marred by a major controversy after its chairman was held and has now even been sentenced for corruption. However little transparency or fairness have been shown while finalizing the names for appointment of its members and apparently merit is becoming a casualty.”

The AAP leader further claims that the government sent the file to him after deciding the appointments, whereas rules and decency demanded that concurrence of the LoP should have been taken before deciding the appointments.

This procedure of involving the LoP in these important appointments was laid down to maintain balance in the selection system so that merit can be ensured in these appointments. As envisaged in the rules and as expected from holder of an important public office, I would not act like a rubber stamp or a mute spectator on such vital issues of constitutional appointments, he said.