Personality check-cum-interview held for IAS post in Punjab

The lone nominated IAS post is to be filled from among non-state civil service employees,who are in a certain payscale and have put in a minimum years of service.

Among the main contenders who appeared for the interview were Opinder Singh Lamba and Senu Duggal (both in the public relations department),Dr Shiv Karan Singh Kahlon (doctor son of Punjab Assembly Speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon) posted in Amritsar as district health officer,Parampal Kaur (daughter-in-law of Education Minister Sikander Singh Maluka) posted as additional director general school education,Mohan Bir Singh (technical education) and Dr Gursharan Kaur (posted in Mohali).

A total of 26 people have been shortlisted for the interviews. The rest of the candidates will now be interviewed on September 2. The committee asked the candidates about their experiences in administration as well as their payscales. Each interview lasted over 10 minutes. The government had decided to hold the interviews after the matter of choice of candidate became a contentious issue. Initially,out of the 26 names,five were finalised to be forwarded to the UPSC. However,the committee that finalised these names went through several draft proceedings in a bid to justify the choices. However,while it could justify the inclusion of five names,it could not justify the exclusion of the others. Having failed in the exercise,the committee decided to go for a personality check-cum-interview of the 26 contenders.

The entire process is to be completed by December 31. Such a nomination taking place after a gap of two years. Punjab Pollution Control Board Chairman Kahan Singh Pannu and Secretary (Food and Civil Supplies) D S Grewal are the two serving IAS officers who were nominated into the service by the Punjab government.