Monday, July 28, 2014

Appointment of Information Commissioners legal: Choudhary

CHANDIGARH, JULY 28
Haryana Chief Secretary S.C. Choudhary today said that all the appointments of State Information Commissioners and Commissioners of Haryana Right to Service Commission made by the state Government are legal and no irregularity has been committed in the issue.
            The Chief Secretary, who was reacting to the media reports concerning observations raised by Haryana Secretary Administrative Reforms Department, Mr. Pardeep Kasni on appointment of Members of State Information Commission and Haryana Right to Service Commission, termed these as misleading, baseless and far from facts.           
He said that all members have fulfilled the requisite qualifications and not a single member was holding any post of profit  during the appointment. He made it clear that all officers who have been administered oath of office were either retirees or they have taken voluntary retirement prior to joining their new assignment. Resignation of all members have been accepted before  their joining new assignment.
            In reply to a query, the Chief Secretary said that the Governor is appointing authority who had authorized the Chief Minister to administer oath to the newly selected members. Once Governor has authorized the Chief Minister,he can administer oath to any member. “ Being the Chief Secretary of the State, I can ask for any file of any department”, he added.
            In reply to another question about overwriting or additions made by him, Mr. Choudhary said that anyone can check about irregularity, if any, from Raj Bhawan as it has a shadow file, about any kind of approval, with a photocopy of Administrative Department. Everything is on record and objection raised by an officer is not based on facts. Before writing observations, he should check the facts with me, added Mr Choudhary.
            On being asked to comment on appointment letter of new members, he said that resignation of all members has been accepted and appointment letters too have been issued to them. All the selections have been made on the basis of merit. Applications were invited to appoint State Information Commissioners and Commissioners of Haryana Right to Service Commission.
            On being asked to comment on why Mr. Kasni raised such observation on appointment, he said that Mr. Kasni can itself well inform about this.  
            Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Dr. K.K. Khandelwal was also present on this occasion.  

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