Abhay to oppose exDGP Singal’s appointment as info panel chief
INLD leader is a member of the statutory committee; Singal, whose functioning was questioned by Jat stir probe panel, is front runner among 3 candidates
CHANDIGARH: The leader of opposition in Haryana legislative assembly, Abhay Chautala, who is also a member of the statutory committee for selecting the Haryana chief information commissioner (CIC), will oppose the appointment of former director general of police (DGP) YP Singal on the post.
The committee is scheduled to meet on Wednesday to choose the CIC from among three shortlisted candidates, of whom Singal is said to be the front runner. The selection panel comprises chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar, public works department minister Rao Narbir Singh and Abhay, a three-time MLA of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD).
Abhay told HT that he had been informed that Singal was one of the three candidates shortlisted for the post of CIC. “How can a person whose functioning was questioned during the Jat stir, which saw largescale violence across the state last year, be appointed as the head of a constitutional body?” he questioned.
Abhay said that Prakash Singh committee had pointed the finger at the then DGP’s role during the Jat stir, when “jungle raj” prevailed in the state.
The committee report had categorically questioned the role of the DGP as the head of the police force and the chief secretary as the administration head.
“I have sought a copy of the Prakash Singh committee report for its detailed comments against the then DGP and I would oppose in writing the name of Singal for the post of CIC,” he said.
The committee constituted by the Haryana government under former Uttar Pradesh DGP Prakash Singh to probe acts of omission and commission on part of police and civil administration officials during the Jat quota violence had indicted 90 officials, including the then Haryana DGP Singal.
The report read: “The committee was disappointed to find that even at the state level, the highest functionaries were almost paralysed, and the kind of guidance, direction and control one expected in such a situation was just not there.
The DGP remained confined to Chandigarh and was content with issuing some orders. He did not lead from the front and did not care to inspire or motivate the personnel in the field.”
In all 78 persons, including several retired bureaucrats, had applied for the post of CIC. Three of them were shortlisted by a three-member committee comprising chief secretary DS Dhesi and two other IAS officers, P Raghavendra Rao and Sudhir Rajpal.
How can a person whose functioning was questioned during the Jat stir, which saw largescale violence across the state last year, be appointed as the head of a constitutional body? ABHAY CHAUTALA, INLD leader