HC orders VB probe into appointments of 63 health workers

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana high court on Wednesday directed the Haryana government to conduct a probe into the appointments of 63 family welfare extension educators in 2008 during the Congress government’s tenure.

The high court bench of justice Surya Kant and justice Sudip Ahluwalia has asked the state government to constitute a vigilance department committee headed by an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer not belonging to the state along with two deputy superintendent of police-level officers, to probe the matter and apprise the court on the next date of hearing on August 31.

The high court (HC) was hearing an appeal filed by some of the appointed persons against a single judge order whereby three such appointments were quashed in January 2015.

The single judge bench had found that the experience certificates, as part of essential qualification, were found to be fake on verification of these three candidates, but still they were given appointments.

The posts were advertised in July 2007 and the appointments were made in 2008. The petition was filed before single judge bench in 2009.

It was alleged that in June 2008, civil surgeon, Rohtak, had written to director general, health services Haryana, Panchkula, stating that the experience certificate produced by a candidate was a bogus document. Similarly, in two other cases despite there being adverse reports on account of alleged fake experience certificates, they were given appointments, ignoring meritorious candidates.

EXPERIENCE CERTIFICATE OF THREE CANDIDATES WERE FOUND TO BE FAKE BUT THEY WERE GIVEN APPOINTMENT