Hry finds way to suspend HSSC head, retired HC judge to conduct probe
CHANDIGARH: The Haryana government on Friday placed Haryana Staff Selection Commission (HSSC) chairman Bharat Bhushan Bharti, using powers under the Punjab General Clause Act, 1898. The state government does not have powers to suspend the HSSC chairman under the HSSC Act.
Bharti will remain suspended till an inquiry into the matter is conducted.
Bharti was placed in suspension after an outcry by the Brahmin organisations who felt hurt at an objectionable question pertaining to the community, which appeared in a written examination conducted by the commission. The state government has also appointed a retired high court judge, Darshan Singh, to inquire into the matter relating to the objectionable question in the examination paper of junior engineers of Haryana Urban Development Authority.
The retired judge will also inquire into acts of omission and commission on the part of panel chairman in this regard. He has been asked submit a report in a month.
The move to suspend Bharti appears to be aimed at placating the Brahmin community and indicates the game of political one-upmanship being played by the BJP leaders. His suspension is surprising as chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar had defended him a couple of days ago saying that since question papers were not shown to anyone in the interest of secrecy, no one except the paper setter can be held responsible for it.
The issue precipitated when a letter written by finance minister Capt Abhimanyu to HSSC chairman appeared in public whereby the minister expressed his anguish at the humiliation of Brahmin community.
Soon thereafter, education minister Ram Bilas Sharma, a Brahmin himself, on Thursday announced Bharti’s suspension, more than 30 hours before the formal orders were issued by the chief secretary’s office.
EDUCATION MINISTER RAM BILAS SHARMA HAD ON THURSDAY ANNOUNCED BHARTI’S SUSPENSION, MORE THAN 30 HOURS BEFORE FORMAL ORDERS ON FRIDAY