IAS nomination: HC notice to Haryana, UPSC on Vijinder Singh’s plea

In November, Haryana government shortlisted the names of the kin of the state BJP leaders to fill up one Indian Administrative Service (IAS) seat from among the five none-state civil service officers.

The Punjab and Haryana high court on Friday put Haryana government on notice on the plea of Vijender Singh, a district town and country planner, seeking vacation of stay imposed by Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) on the nomination process.

Vijender Singh had argued that the selection process should be hampered since it had to be completed by December 31, 2017.(Representative image)

The high court bench of justice AK Mittal and justice Amit Rawal also asked the government as to why the CAT order should not be stayed. Any decision taken by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), New Delhi, shall be subject to further orders to be passed by this court, the high court said.

In November, Haryana government shortlisted the names of the kin of the state BJP leaders to fill up one Indian Administrative Service (IAS) seat from among the five none-state civil service officers.

Vijender Singh had argued that the selection process should be hampered since it had to be completed by December 31, 2017.

Earlier this month, CAT had stayed the process on plea of Surender Singh Dahiya, additional director of Haryana’s agricultural department who had demanded that recommendations of the screening committee for appointment be set aside. The main contention was that Asha Sharma, medical officer, who happens to be daughter of education minister Ram Bilas Sharma, was not eligible and did not qualify or fulfil the criteria of having an “outstanding record for the past five years” as per rules and regulations of the IAS Regulations, 1997. Yet, her name was recommended. CAT had stayed process on December 4.

Those shortlisted by the government are 42-year-old Dr Asha Sharma, and Lajpat Rai, 56, brother of Santosh Yadav, deputy speaker Vidhan Sabha, who are at the first and second position. Other three candidates in the fray are Parveen Sethi (director dental health services); Dr Rakesh Talwar (in-charge of health facilities at Haryana Raj Bhawan); and Vijender Singh, the petitioner. Sethi too has approached the high court.