Man in picture is Dilip Prasad
Guv suspends JPSC chairman
Vijay Deo Jha/Rakesh Ranjan | Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Ranchi
In an unprecedented move, Jharkhand Governor MOH Farook suspended chairperson of Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) Dilip Prasad on Tuesday using the power granted under Article 317 of the Constitution.
Meanwhile, AK Sengupta, member JPSC, has been asked to hold the additional charge. Raj Bhavan sources said that the Governor ordered his suspension after getting nod from the Union Home Ministry.
It may be noted here that the advisory council of then Governor Syed Sibtey Razi, on February 25, 2009, had recommended his dismissal along with JPSC members Gopal Prasad Singh and former member Radha Govind Singh Nagesh for alleged irregularities while conducting various recruitments by the JPSC.
The council had also requested President Pratibha Patil for ordering a probe into their conduct and institution of criminal cases against them.
Razi had acted following the complaints, including that of irregularities in the appointment of 239 civil servants and 1,044 college teachers. The University Grants Commission, following the complaints of irregularities lodged by Jharkhand BET-NET Association last year in the appointment of college lectures, had requested the Governor to look into the allegation.
The association had claimed that at least 37 candidates close to the members of the JPSC received undue favour. It approached the Jharkhand High Court and contended that they were unduly selected for positions in the civil services and State universities (as lecturers).
There was no respite for the JPSC chairman after the next Governor K Sankaranarayanan had on August 4, 2009 given nod for vigilance inquiry against Prasad, Nagesh and Santi Devi into the limited competitive examinations for the recruitment of 60 deputy collectors from among Government employees.
Though, Article 317 (1) of the Constitution has ensured that the charges of corruption against a member of the State public service commission can be probed only by a Supreme Court judge. A member can be penalised or removed only after the charges are found true by the inquiry commission. But the Governor has been vested with the right to suspend a member on the specific charges of irregularities.
Prasad was appointed as officiating chairman of JPSC on September 22, 2004, after former JPSC chairman PC Hembrom's term expired.
The Governor also promulgated the ordinance of Panchyat election and approved the Bill for the establishment of National Law School as passed during the Budget session of the State Assembly.
