Sidhu sacking gets Governor sanction

Punjab Governor J.F.R. Jacob today dispatched his consent on the state government’s proposal to remove tainted PPSC chairman Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu, involved in the sensational cash-for-job scam, to the President of India K.R. Narayanan, official sources confirmed today.

Second FIR registered against Sidhu

CHANDIGARH: The Vigilance Bureau today registered a second FIR in the cash-for-job scam involving Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu and released the names of 32 people who allegedly bribed to get government jobs. The second FIR was registered at Patiala in order to investigate the whole gamut of recruitments made through the PPSC during Sidhu’s tenure, Additional Director General of Police (Vigilance) A.P. Pandey said here. Story continues below this ad He said the FIR was registered against Sidhu, his mother Pritpal Kaur, NRI brother Reetinder Singh, sister-in-law Ajinder Kaur and four alleged touts.

The President is expected to ask the Supreme Court to conduct an inquiry before recommending Sidhu’s removal, they added.

The proposal for Sidhu’s removal — recommended on the grounds of misbehaviour as mentioned in Article 317 of the Constitution — details various charges against the chairman of the constitutional body which recommends candidates for appointment in the Punjab government service.

It is only after the President is satisfied with the case and sends it to the Supreme Court for inquiry that the state government can initiate action against Sidhu. The state government has no virtually no powers on the issue of removal of members of state Public Service Commission. Removal can occur after an inquiry by the Supreme Court is held and it holds a member guilty.

Besides Sidhu, five of his associates have been arrested. The government has cancelled the appointment of 639 people to various posts made during Sidhu’s tenure while a review has been ordered in 3,466 appointments.

Three get bail in stripping case

MOGA: A Punjab MLA, his son and a suspended police official have been granted anticipatory bail in a case related to the stripping of two girls in public.

The MLA, Sadhu Singh, his son Jagtar Singh and Station House Officer of Bhagpurana Police Station in Moga district were granted bail by Additional District and Sessions Judge J.S. Chawla yesterday. ASI Gurmail Singh was denied bail. The case was registered against all four on the directions of the Punjab and Haryana UC by Bhagpurana Police Station in Moga district on April 16 for outraging the modesty of two girls. (Agencies).