Haryana Assembly Session Disrupted Over Inspector Recruitment Controversy

Controversy Surrounds 2008 Inspector Recruitment

The ongoing budget session of the Haryana Assembly has seen significant disruption on its seventh day due to allegations surrounding the recruitment of inspectors in 2008 during former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda's tenure. BJP MLA Om Prakash Yadav raised concerns about the recruitment process, claiming that the top scorer was overlooked in favor of a candidate who had failed, allegedly due to manipulation.

It was alleged that Hooda's nephew was involved in this recruitment scandal, prompting a walkout by Congress legislators who protested vocally in the assembly. In response, Minister Mahipal Dhanda remarked that the opposition seemed agitated. Chief Minister Khattar noted that the court had expressed concerns regarding the government's procedures, indicating that justice was not served to the youth during that administration.

Justice Denied to Youth During Previous Administration

Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini highlighted a recent High Court ruling, which stated that the top candidate was not selected, while a candidate from Panipat was chosen instead. The court raised alarms about the recruitment process, emphasizing that the previous government failed to provide justice to the youth. This statement incited further protests from opposition members.

Minister Anil Vij pointed out that while the assembly had ruled against showing certain newspapers, the issue could still be raised. He emphasized that the matter was critical, as it involved the future of young individuals. The Speaker instructed the opposition to remain seated amidst the uproar, while Minister Vipul Goel attempted to speak but was silenced by the Speaker.

High Court Acknowledges Irregularities in Recruitment

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has provided some relief to the police inspectors recruited during Hooda's administration, acknowledging irregularities in the recruitment process but refusing to annul the selections. The court stated that while there were discrepancies, they did not warrant the cancellation of the entire recruitment.

Amit Kumar, a resident of Karnal, and others informed the court that the Haryana Staff Selection Commission had recruited 20 inspectors, with several positions allegedly filled by relatives of political figures and officials.

Allegations of Recruitment Fraud

The petitioner claimed to have scored 145 out of 200 in the written exam, making him the top scorer, yet received only seven out of 25 in the interview, resulting in his placement on the waiting list. He alleged that candidates with lower scores were favored during the interview process. The petitioner accused the recruitment of widespread fraud, stating that selected candidates used correction fluid and scratch paper, violating exam regulations. Allegations were also made against two candidates for being absent yet passing fraudulently.

Consequences of Annulment on Police Morale

The committee investigating the matter reported that many answers showed signs of correction fluid and scratches, yet were still accepted. It also noted that candidates accused of fraud should undergo forensic analysis, which had not yet occurred. The court concluded that the selected candidates had not intentionally committed any wrongdoing and had performed well in their roles over the past 16 years, with some even promoted to DSP positions. Annulment of such an old recruitment would not only signify administrative failure but also negatively impact the morale of current police personnel.

The court adhered to the principle of greater harm than relief, asserting that canceling the selections would not resolve the issue but rather create a larger problem. It clarified that while procedural errors existed, no serious illegal actions had taken place.

Call for Withdrawal of Cases Against Farmers

Earlier in the session, Congress MLA Parmveer Singh raised the issue of farmers during zero hour, urging the government to understand their state of mind and to withdraw all cases filed against them. He questioned the legal basis for preventing farmers from protesting.

Concerns Over VAT on Diesel

The Congress MLA also addressed the MSP issue, stating that sellers in Haryana were not purchasing farmers' crops at the MSP. He urged the government to ensure that sellers comply with MSP regulations. Additionally, he highlighted that Haryana imposes a higher VAT on diesel compared to Punjab, calling for a review of this policy to lessen the financial burden on farmers.

Infrastructure Development in Assandh

MLA Yogendra Rana expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Nayab Saini for promoting equitable development across all 90 constituencies. He noted that while significant work had been accomplished in the Assandh constituency over the past decade, some projects remain incomplete. He urged the Chief Minister to consider upgrading the roads in Assandh to four lanes, citing the area's geographical advantages.