CHANDIGARH: Exemplary courage shown by an officer can entitle him or her to get a ward recruited against a class I job in the Punjab govt now.

This new category of reservation in govt jobs has been created under the “compassionate grounds” head and the first beneficiary is Mr. D.S.Mangat, a son of the Director General of the Police, Punjab D.S.Mangat. The appointment of Mr D.S.Mangat (Jr) to the Punjab Civil Service (Executive Branch) has been approved by the Governor-in-Council, which is unprecedented.

The basis of providing a class I job to Mr D.S.Mangat (Jr) is understood to be “exemplary courage” shown by his father in the fight against militants in the state.

The DGP was injured when an abortive attempt was made on his life in Ludhiana in February this year. The appointment has evoked mixed reactions. It has led to strong resentment among the candidates appearing for the PCS entrance test later this year.

These candidates argue that whenever the state govt makes such an appointment, a post from the general category is subtracted. This time the govt has used its discretion six times in making direct appointments to the PCS (Executive Branch).

Early this year the state govt recommended to the Punjab Public Service Commission filing of PCS (Executive branch) posts. The posts have been advertised. Only half of these posts are scheduled to be filled through entrance examination in the general category. Though the govt has decided not to subtract six posts already filled by direct nomination so far, the candidates feel that such nominations are being made without watching their interests.

The only past precedent for such an appointment, though in a lower category, has been in the case of the son of Dr. Kewal Krishan, a former Finance Minister and a general secretary of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee. The son of the former minister who was employed earlier as a dispenser was directly appointed Inspector in another department on “security” considerations. But never before ward of a serving officer has been given a direct class I job, the highest the state can offer.

 The precedent set by this appointment, it is said, may open & Pandora’s  box as there will be several claimants  for such coveted jobs on the basis of “exemplary bravery or courage” shown by them while in service.

Mr. D.S. Mangat (Jr) has been asked to undergo medical examination and produce good character verification report from the police before joining the service.

 Earlier, the govt had nominated to the PCS (Executive Branch) Mrs Amrit Atwal, wife of DIG AS, Atwal; the widow of Mr Ajit Singh, DIG (Border Range) died in an encounter some weeks ago, Mr Arun Sekhri, son of Mr ML. Sekhri, Chief Engineer of Sutlej Yamuna Link Canal; besides appointing a son of a district judge. The govt has also committed to Ms Babita Bains, — daughter of Mr Gobind Ram and toa son of Mr Hari Om Bublani, a PCS officer, that they will be nominated to PCS posts Executive Branch as and when they become eligible.

Though appointments made earlier were in accordance with a policy of providing jobs to one eligible member of the family of a serving class I officer killed in militant violence, the job offered to the son of the D.G.P was beyond the scope of any such policy of the State. Meanwhile, the Punjab government has appointed Mr S.K Naik, Secretary, Local Govt, Town and Country Planning as Resident Commissioner, New Delhi, against a vacant post.

 The govt will issue orders for the post of Secretary, Local Govt, Town and Country Planning, after return of some officers from deputation from the Uncon Govt Mr S.S.Dawra, Managing Director, Mafed, is expected to be relieved on July 14 but he may report back for posting here in the last week of July. Similarly, the govt has received a similar request from Mrs Jyotsna Khanna. Her husband, Mr N.N.Khann, already posted Secretary, Technical Education, is expected to take up his new assignment after July 20.

Article extracted from this publication >> July 19, 1991