CHANDIGARH: The controversial case relating to the appointment of clerks at Mansa took a dramatic tum with the former Deputy Commissioner, Mansa, Swaran Singh, stating before the Punjab and Haryana High Court that he was specifically told by the Punjab Chief Minister, Beant Singh, not to make any appointment to the posts of clerks, ‘Steno typists, out of the initial selection lists prepared by him.
Swaran Singh, Who is now Additional Secretary (Planning), Punjab, was summoned by the Court where he made a categorical statement in the packed court room that the contentious lists of those recommended were first given to him by Gurmit Singh, political secretary to Chief Minis| ter. However, when he refused to accept it saying that Gurmit Singh | has no authority to hand over these lists to him, Beant Singh accompanied by the state Revenue Minister personally handed over the lists to him. He specifically instructed him to make appointments to the posts out of those lists only.
Swaran Singh also categorically Stated that when he informed the CM that most of the candidates mentioned in these lists had neither applied for the posts nor appeared for interview, his P. S, Gurmit Singh, told him, “in case you want to remain DC Mansa, you will have to go to the residence of the candidates to procure “their applications”.
To a query by the Bench comprising Justice R.S. Mongia and Justice J.L. Gupta, as to why he did not make appointments pursuant to the selections, Swaran Singh replied that he did not do so because of political pressure on him. He also informed the count that except for two lists, which were signed by Gurmit Singh, he made an endorsement on each of these lists to the effect, “handed over by ‘Chief Minister and State Revenue Minister.”
Article extracted from this publication >> August 26, 1994
