Chandigarh, February 27
In less than a month after the state of Punjab issued statements regarding lifting of ban on new recruitments, the government today informed a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court that final decision was yet to be taken by the council of ministers.
Appearing before the Division Bench, comprising Mr Justice G.S. Singhvi and Mr Justice Surya Kant Sharma, Additional Advocate-General (AAG) Sukhjinder Singh Behl added that the government as of now had not lifted the ban on new recruitment.
The statement was made during the hearing on a bunch of petitions filed by Ms Dushinder Kaur and others. They had challenged the action of the government in not giving them appointment due to the ban earlier imposed by the authorities. Today, the AAG added that final decision had not been taken by the competent authority regarding the post of clerks.
Counsel for the petitioners on the other hand, questioned the
recruitment of Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs). How can the government go ahead with the recruitment of DSPs if the ban has not been lifted, counsel asked. He added that the government was apparently adopting a pick and choose policy. An under secretary in the Personnel Department added that decisions were being taken at the cabinet level. After hearing the arguments and going through the records, the Bench fixed May 3 as the next date of hearing in the case.
It may be recalled that the government, on January 27, had categorically stated that the cabinet had decided to lift the ban on new recruitments. Statements were also issued to the press in this regard.
