63 Punjab PCS officers to be dismissed

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab government has decided to cancel all the Punjab Civil Service (PCS) appointments of the 1998 batch in the executive and allied branches made during the tenure of suspended Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) chairman Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu.
However, the sacked officers would be given an opportunity to try their luck again.In all, services of 63 officers of different categories have been dispensed with.
The decision was taken by the council ministers in a meeting held here on Wednesday on the recommendation of the department of personnel and the findings of the Punjab Vigilance Bureau With this, the selection and appointment of 10 ETOs (excise and taxation officers), 11 DFSOs (district food and supply officers), eight assistant registrars co-operatives), 15 employment officers and 19 tehsildars was declared null and void and their services stand dispensed with immediate effect . Also, the cabinet has approved that the government should hold fresh and fair selections where all candidates whose services have been dispensed with would be given reasonable opportunity.
Earlier, the government had cancelled the selection of 46 PCS (executive) officers, of which 28 were sacked and 18 reverted to their original postings. All these officers were still on probation when they were given marching orders. Early this week, the Punjab and Haryana High Court had directed the Punjab government to terminate the services of 57 PCS (judicial) officers.
These included 39 judges of lower courts from whom the work had been withdrawn earlier and the 18 awaiting posting. The issue of the termination of the judicial officers did not come before the cabinet as the formal orders were awaited. However, the axe is certain to fall the PCS (judicial) officers soon.
But the cabinet approved the appointment of Lakhwinder Singh, son Nachhater Singh as naib tehsildar compassionate grounds as his parents were killed in terrorist action. Besides, the council of ministers approved the annual administrative reports of the departments of Cultural Affairs, Archaeology and Museums, Languages and Town and Country Planning for the years 1999-2000, 2000-2001 and 1999-2000, respectively.
The council of ministers also decided to afford an opportunity to the unauthorised occupants of urban government land to get it transferred on already laid down conditions if they apply till October 31.
And approved the disposal of Bhupindra Agricultural Training Centre and adjoining areas measuring 243 kanals situated in Indrapura village adjacent Patiala city to the government of India for Rs 1.28 crore. The cabinet amended the Punjab Finance Commissioners’ Secretariat (class-I) service rules to facilitate their promotion.