The Western Command chief of staff, Lt Gen TS Gill, who is set to superannuate next week, will be sworn in as the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) chairperson on September 2 by governor Shivraj Patil, according to top government sources.
As reported first in Hindustan Times, it was in mid-June that chief minister Parkash Singh Badal had cleared the name of Lt Gen Gill, who also remained deputy commandant of the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun (Uttarakhand), for the constitutional post he will hold till September 2016.
The commission chairman and members serve for a fixed term of six years or until they are 62.
Government sources say the swearing in of Lt Gen Gill was delayed as he is still in service.
The post fell vacant after Lt Gen MS Buttar (retd) demitted office in May after a nine-month stint.
The three-member search committee headed by chief secretary had shortlisted inservice lieutenant generals Gill and Balbir Pama; and NS Bawa, who had retired from the same rank, for the post.
Six top-ranking army officers (three in-service and three retired) were among 25 contenders for the post of the PPSC chairperson. The applicants ranged from a Shiromani Akali Dal leader to two matriculates.
Six top-ranking army officers (three in-service and three retired) were among 25 contenders for the post of the PPSC chairperson. The applicants ranged from a Shiromani Akali Dal leader to two matriculates.
Meanwhile, the government is set to fill three posts of PPSC members — two non-official and one official.
It is learnt that half-a-dozen retired IAS and IPS officers are vying for PPSC members’ slots.