CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Chief Minister, Beant Singh, is Contemplating the reconstitution of the State Consumers Redressed Commission before the completion of its five-year term with a View to create a berth for his own daughter. While the Chairman is being retained, the slot for two other members are likely to be filled by the Chief Minister’s daughter and a Congress(I) candidate who lost the last State Assembly poll. This distinction should otherwise go to “a lady social worker” and “a prominent public figure.”

This move assumes significance in the light of increasing criticism of the Chief Minister favoring family and friends. Rules have been amended to Amaninder Singh, erstwhile Maharaja of Patiala and a member of the Akali Dal (Longowal), from remaining a member of the Commission, while the second member, Lakshmi Kanta Chawla, a BJP MA from Ammnisar Central, has been forced into submitting her resignation.

According to the amended rules, it has become mandatory for the Chairman as well as the other two members to attend the sittings of the State Consumers Redressed Commission at least the times in a month. The Commission can only decide a cues if at least two out of the three persons in the Commission are present. Amarinder Singh becomes a defaulter as he has attended only one meeting of the Commission since its last sitting in July 1991.

Chawla has, on the other hand, attended at least five dozen sittings of the Commission. Since it was not possible to replace her otherwise, she has been pressurized into submitting her resignation.

This leaves the field open for the Chief Minister to nominate anyone to this Commission. One name that is being mentioned in the category of “an eminent person” is that of a candidate who lost the last State Assembly poll, but he is close to the Chief Minister. For the second slot, that of “already social worker,” the Chief Minister is thinking of appointing his own daughter. The Chief Minister’s daughter, some feel, does not by any means fit into this slot.

Article extracted from this publication >>  January 15, 1993