Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 15: The Cabinet which met here under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed approved the appointment of Abdul Latief Deva, IAS as Chairman, Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission. The other members of the Commission approved by the Cabinet include Prof Reshi Dogra, ex Registrar, Prof Mushtaq Ahmad Wani, retired Principal, Indu Kelam retired Professor, G.R Bhagat, retired IAS officer and Munshi Muzzaffar Hussain, retired KAS officer.
Pertinently, Governor N N Vohra had rejected the PSC panel which was recommended by the erstwhile NC-Cong regime last year.
The erstwhile regime had approved appointment of Khurshid Ahmad Ganaie, IAS, Financial Commissioner, Industries & Commerce Department, J&K, as Chairman Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission and had also approved appointment of 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), Dr Tejit Singh, Prof Ophthalmology (Retired) and Dr Farooq Ahmad Kaloo, Director, Animal Husbandry (Retired) as members of the Commission.
A Raj Bhawan spokesman while giving the details about Governor's refusal had said "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,".
He had said the Governor has laid down a framework for the appointment of chairman and members of the Public Service Commission in the state.
He had said that the Governor had stressed the need for a transparent framework being put in place which will permit only competent, honest and well respected persons being appointed in 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," he had said.
The Governor had the new 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," he had said.
He had said the Governor has been seriously concerned about the need to ensure that the PSC functions effectively and maintains a high reputation for its integrity.
"The 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" he had said.
"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," the spokesman had said. |
