Haryana relaxes norms to issue job letters to 25,000 youth

To ensure that there is no delay in the joining of successful candidates in their respective departments, boards and corporations, the state government has decided to issue them provisional appointment letters without verification of character and antecedents, and medical certification of fitness.

The Human Resource Department issued instructions in this regard on October 11 for Group A, B, C and D posts to all administrative secretaries, heads of departments, managing directors of boards and corporations, divisional commissioners, district and sessions judges, deputy commissioners and the registrars of all universities in Haryana. The announcement regarding the relaxation in the provisions came after caretaker CM Nayab Singh Saini made a statement that he would take oath only after giving joining letters to about 25,000 youth, whose results were held up due to the model code of conduct.

“During the last term, when I was entrusted with the responsibility of the CM, I had spoken about providing jobs to 50,000 youth. Of them, 15,000 were given joining letters in the last term. When we were ready to give the joining letters to 25,000 more, the Opposition went to court and also wrote to the EC saying that the results could not be declared during the elections. The EC then issued a letter saying the results should not be declared until the elections get over. I had then announced that I would take oath only after the joining letters were issued to the youth first,” said the CM.

There used to be a delay of months in the verification of character and antecedents, and medical certification of fitness whenever the Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC) or the Haryana Staff Selection Commission (HSSC) recommended candidates on a large scale.

The existing provisions regarding the issuance of provisional appointment letters, vide the Chief Secretary’s instructions, dated June 23, 2022, have been relaxed and the letters can now be issued without verification of character and antecedents subject to the completion of the verification within three months from the date of joining.

In case the character and antecedents of the candidate are found not verified or any false information is given by the candidate in his self-declaration, the provisional appointment letter will be cancelled forthwith and legal action taken. The candidate will also be rendered unfit for any government employment.

Rule 9 of the Haryana Civil Services (General) Rules, 2016, says no person may be appointed to a post in government service without a medical certificate of fitness obtained from a competent authority. However, now it has been decided that the provisional appointment letters be issued without a medical certificate of fitness subject to the production of the certificate within two months from the date of the joining.

Three-month time for checks

• The government has decided to issue provisional appointment letters without verification of character and antecedents, and medical certification of fitness
• The verification, however, has to be completed within three months from the date of joining & the medical certification within two months; failure to do so will invite action