HSWC Recruitment Row: Complaint on which FIR sought against Khemka was probed by police 6 yrs ago

Alleging irregularities in recruitment of two persons — Pradip Kumar and Surinder Singh (now terminated), the complaint was initially lodged by a Panchkula resident Ravinder Kumar in 2016. He kept pursuing the complaint at various platforms, including police’s top brass and even in HSWC, seeking registration of a FIR against Khemka and others. After failing to evoke response, he moved a complaint in the office of Haryana Lokayukta the same year.

Based on Lokayukta’s directions, Haryana Police conducted an inquiry but found no merit in the allegations. In his report submitted to the Lokayukta, the then Panchkula DCP mentioned: “…no facts have come to fore on the basis of which members of interview committee (of HSWC) should be summoned or their statements be recorded…No offence was made out”.

The matter pertains to recruitment of Surinder and Pradip on the post of managers Grade-I in HSWC in 2010.

The documents show that Khemka was only one of the members of the executive committee that conducted interviews and selected the two officials.

At the time of recruitment, a screening committee comprising few officials of HSWC was constituted on October 9, 2009. It was given a mandate to examine “detail of eligibility criteria and other conditions for appointment and compile the applications received for the said posts and thereafter convene a meeting of the screening committee”.

On December 2, 2009, the screening committee submitted that 102 applications were received for 10 posts of manager Grade-I out of which 13 were found eligible. Khemka, being the MD (HSWC) at that time, asked for constituting an interview committee and directed that the date for holding interview of shortlisted candidates be finalised.

Subsequently, following nod from then chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, the interviews were conducted on January 31, 2010. The executive committee that conducted the interviews was chaired by IAS officer Roshan Lal, while IAS officers Ashok Kumar Yadav, Khemka, IRS officer Kusum, and another officer SS Sood were its members.

Both, Surinder and Pradip had applied under the ESM-G (ex-servicemen) category against one post of manager Grade-I, but due to the high score that they received in interview and screening, both figured in the merit under the general category.

All five members of the executive committee had signed their selection.

In fact, Verma, a 2004-batch officer recently posted as MD, HSWC, while recommending registration of a criminal case against Khemka and others cited two major points – recruitments were not made according to the roster and the candidates were selected without having valid experience.

However, documents reveal that the Surinder and Pradip were awarded the maximum 10 marks for “experience” by the executive committee. The score put them among the top eligible candidates in the merit list, after interview.

Out of the 10 vacancies for manager Grade-I (including five in general, one each in ESM-G, BC-A and BC-B and two in SC categories), six candidates were selected including five in general category and one in BC-A category.

Out of these two candidates did not join, another joined and left service, while remaining three were in service till date. Out of these three, now Verma has terminated services of two Surinder and Pradip.

After Verma recommended “strict disciplinary action” and an FIR, it is learnt that Khemka too has written to requested Additional Chief Secretary (Agriculture) Sumita Misra who is also Administrative Secretary of HSWC. Apprehending a damage or tampering of relevant records in the HSWC, Khemka has urged Misra to take control of all the relevant records including the one pertaining to screening committee, relevant file notings, record of interview by executive committee, Board of Directors, complaints made by the complainant in the past, correspondence between HSWC and state government, past enquiries, and police report on a reference from Lokayukta.