Minister’s son-in-law appointed as E&T inspector, rules tweaked

| | Chandigarh
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Minister’s son-in-law appointed as E&T inspector, rules tweaked

Saturday, 18 September 2021 | PNS | Chandigarh

Three months after the Punjab Cabinet faced the ire for giving government jobs to the sons of two Congress MLAs on compassionate grounds, the state Cabinet on Friday approved the appointment of Revenue Minister Gurpreet Singh Kangar’s son-in-law as Excise and Taxation Inspector by tweaking rules.

The Cabinet, in its virtual meeting chaired by the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, gave a go-ahead for Gursher Singh’s appointment as Excise and Taxation Inspector on compassionate grounds “in one-time relaxation without the case being treated as a precedent”.

While doing so, the Chief Minister noted that Gursher’s father, Bhupjit Singh, had played a major role in blowing the whistle in the Ravi Sidhu PPSC scam to clean up the Punjab Public Service Commission.

“Bhupjit Singh, who was posted as Excise and Taxation Officer in Excise and Taxation Department, had died on September 28, 2011. At that time, his son Gursher Singh had just completed his Graduation in Commerce. As per the office records, Jasbir Kaur, wife of late Bhupjit Singh, vide her application dated June 26, 2020, (eight years after her husband’s death) had requested for employment in favour of her son Gursher Singh,” read the official statement.

As per Government Policy, dated November 21, 2002, and amendment vide letter dated December 28, 2005, the heirs of the deceased employee or officer have to apply for employment within one year from the date of death. The policy also clarifies that if there is a genuine cause for delay, the application of the candidate can be considered up to a delay of five years after obtaining special approval from the Personnel Department, citing reasons of the delay in detail.

Also, notably, Gursher Singh’s qualification is Bachelor of Commerce, which is beneficial for the post of Excise and Tax Inspector, read the statement. Bhupjit Singh had died of a heart attack while in service.

“In view of the qualification of candidate and the contribution made by Bhupjit Singh, Excise and Taxation Officer, during his tenure, the applicant has been considered for the post of Excise and Taxation Inspector, and the Cabinet has decided to make an exception on special grounds,” said the government spokesperson after the meeting.

The appointment was approved even as the state Personnel Department had raised objections to providing job to the Minister’s son-in-law on compassionate grounds as a special case.

The development assumes significance as Kangar, ahead Navjot Singh Sidhu’s appointment as Punjab Congress chief, was backing the former cricketer and part of anti-Capt Amarinder camp. It is believed that Kangar has switched to Chief Minister’s side a few weeks back.

Notably, the Congress-led government drew flak after son of Qadian MLA Fateh Jung Singh Bajwa was appointed as DSP and son of Ludhiana north MLA Rakesh Pandey appointed Naib Tehsildar — more than 30 years after both the appointees had lost their respective grandfathers in terrorist attacks in 1987.

Fatehjung’s son had announced to give up the job offer after the matter was blown out of proportion, and also reached the party high command.

Before that also, the Congress Government received severe criticism for appointing the grandson of slain Chief Minister Beant Singh as DSP in the state Police force on compassionate grounds by fine-tuning the Rules.

Notably, after coming to power in 2017, the Congress Government had appointed Beant Singh’s grandson Guriqbal Singh, who is also the brother of Ludhiana MP Ravneet Singh Bittu and cousin of Congress MLA Gurkirat Singh Kotli, as DSP by granting “special permission” by relaxing maximum age requirement.

GHAR GHAR NAUKARI FOR CONG MINISTERS ONLY, SAYS SAD

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Friday said that the blatant manner in which all rules were thrown to the wind to grant the job to the son-in-law of Revenue Minister Gurpreet Singh Kangar proved that the Congress party’s “Ghar Ghar Naukari” scheme was restricted to family members of Ministers and Congress legislators and leaders.

Terming Gursher’s appointment as “patently illegal”, former Minister Bikram Singh Majithia said that it was also a cruel joke on lakhs of youth or Punjab who had trusted the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and his promise to provide one job in each household of the State.

“Forget providing any jobs to meritorious and needy youth, the government is bent on adjusting kin of its leaders by bending the rules,” he said.

Maintaining that Revenue Minister’s son-in-law was “ineligible” for the job, Majithia said that the candidate has property worth crores of rupees which makes him ineligible for appointment on compassionate grounds.

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