Why norms for selection of Chandigarh Right to Service Commission chief tweaked: senior citizen’s body

He pointed to the December 9, 2022, public notice under which an advertisement was issued to invite applications for the post of CRSC chief commissioner as per the terms and conditions under Section 13 and Section 15 of the Act. “The applications were invited within 30 days of the advertisement. The process was never completed and results for applications received are not known to the public. And no information has been supplied under the RTI Act even after an appeal,” he said.

He added another public on June 12 saying the administrator “was pleased to amend the notification dated 23.1.2018 to the extent that the Chandigarh Right to Service Commission shall be headed by a chief commissioner”. “This amendment has been carried out without assigning any reasons whatsoever.”

He added on July 25 this year another public notice was issued inviting applications for the post of CRSC chief commissioner by 5 pm on August 16.

The detailed public notice issued by Secretary Personnel invited applications as per Section 13(2) of the said Act. An applicant should be a retired officer in the rank and status of the Secretary to the Government of India, it said.

In his representation to Purohit, Garg said, “It is important to bring to your kind notice that provisions contained in Section 13 of the said Act have not been applied as a whole and for convenience only Section 13(2) has been applied whereas Section 13(3) is also an integral part of the said Act and applicable to Chandigarh UT.”

According to Section 13(3), “The Commissioner shall be retired Officers of the Government of Punjab in the rank and status of a Secretary or its equivalent rank and status in any of the services of the state, including officers of All India Services from the Punjab cadre and /or expert in the field of Public Administration or e-governance with at least twenty years of experience in teaching or administration or from amongst other eminent public persons”.

“It is a matter of concern that for such an important public post, which is going to impact the rights of people for the next five years, the fair procedure has not been adopted and fair opportunity has not been offered to a vast field of public life. Even 30 days’ time has not been offered,” Garg added.

“As such the process being carried to appoint the Chief Commissioner may be stopped immediately and applications be invited as per law so that the public gets a fair opportunity and benefit from the vast talent available in the society. This will be a good message from Punjab Raj Bhawan and UT administration should not be allowed to have its way by sidelining the law of the land.”