The Newz Radar
SHIMLA: The cabinet meeting called by the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh on September 14 is likely to give a go-ahead to the constitution of the State Selection Commission (Rajya Chayan Aayog) to replace the disbanded Himachal Pradesh State Staff Selection Commission (HPSSSC), say sources in the administration.
The cabinet meeting, to be chaired by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, was scheduled on September 5, 2023, but its agenda was not known. The Newz Radar had reported on September 5 that the constitution of the new recruitment agency to replace the HPSSSC was likely to be on agenda. The HPSSSC was disbanded due to alleged corruption in recruitment tests and following the arrest of several employees of the commission that was based in Hamirpur.
As various recruitments have been pending in the state for eight months, anger had been growing among the unemployed youth against the government.
Chief Minister Sukhu had said recently that the notification of the new recruitment commission will be issued shortly and it will replace the disbanded Himachal Pradesh State Staff Selection Commission (HPSSSC).
The Himachal government had formed the Deepak Shanan Committee for giving recommendations on forming the new commission. The committee had, at a recent meeting, provided a comprehensive presentation. The presentation highlighted various measures aimed at ensuring transparency, structural integrity and fairness in the operations of the proposed recruitment commission.
The Chief Minister had said that the government was committed to ensure a transparent recruitment process that prioritises the interests of the state’s youth. He said the new commission would focus solely on merit-based selection, eradicating concerns about leaks and other irregularities. The new system is designed to minimise human interference during exams, employing foolproof methods to maintain integrity. Modern tools, practices, and techniques will be employed in crafting exam papers, streamlining the recruitment process and combating corruption.
Chief Minister Sukhu had said that recruitment would commence once the new selection commission was set up. He said that the state government was intolerant for any manipulation that affects the welfare of the youth of the state. The decision to dissolve the Himachal Pradesh State Staff Selection Commission was motivated by the need to address rampant corruption, he said.
The committee chairman, Deepak Shanan, said that a second report would be submitted shortly, further detailing the commission’s functionality more precisely. Education Minister Rohit Thakur, Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Bharat Khera, OSD to Chief Minister Gopal Sharma, Secretary Education Abhishek Jain, Principal Private Secretary to Chief Minister Vivek Bhatia and members of Deepak Shanan Committee and Director Digital Technology and Governance Mukesh Repswal too were present at the meeting, among others.
