CM wants ultra sympathiser on PPSC board out

After sacking R.P.S. Sidhu from the post of chairman of the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC), the Punjab government will now seek the...

After sacking R.P.S. Sidhu from the post of chairman of the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC), the Punjab government will now seek the dismissal of another commission member.

The government is proceeding against Amarjit Singh Chawla, a former militant associated with Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, and a case for his dismissal is being prepared.

Chawla was appointed in November 2000 and he still has four years to go before his term expires. Speaking to The Indian Express, CM Amarinder Singh today said: ‘‘There is no room for ex-terrorists in the PPSC.’’

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He said: ‘‘There are three members in the PPSC who were selected by former chief minister P.S. Badal and one of them is a former terrorist.’’ Without naming Chawla, he said: ‘‘This man has charges against him under Section 124 which covers terrorism.’’

When asked whether the government is planning to take action against him, Amarinder replied in the affirmative.‘‘Of course, we are going to take action. I will not have an ex-terrorist selecting boys in the PPSC.’’

When asked whether the government has initiated any action, the CM said the process which was adopted in the case of Ravi Sidhu will be followed. The case will be sent to the Governor, the President and then the Supreme Court who will decide it.

Chawla’s appointment has been controversial right from the beginning, for he was closely associated with Bhindranwale.

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Chawla, along with Rajinder Singh Mehta, headed the All India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF) known as the Mehta-Chawla faction. Apart from Chawla, the appointment of Virsa Singh Valtoha, another former militant as a member of the Punjab Subordinate Selection Board had also evoked a controversy.

Valtoha has since then been sacked and also arrested in a case of corruption.