'Public service commissions are fiefdoms of CMs'

Addressing the all India conference of the Central Administrative Tribunal here on Saturday, Justice G S Singhvi said, “state public service commissions which recruit employees who will run the future administration...In the last few years the membership and chairmen of public service commissions have become the fiefdom of the chief ministers”.

He said “cases after cases” have been reported from various states including Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Bihar and Maharashtra where serious allegations of corruption have been levelled against the chairman (of public service commission).

“...Because they are not men of competence. They were not men of integrity...in Punjab one member – facing a trial under 302 (of the IPC) – he was a member of the Public Service Commission. What type of recruitment they will be making...if the recruiting agencies comprises of tainted persons who are not competent, cases are bound to be generated (in courts and tribunals),” he wondered.

He stressed the need to develop an internal mechanism to avoid service related matters flooding courts. He said the mindset to a representation is “let him go to the court...that speaks of the malady...it is a serious matter which must be debated at appropriate forum.”