HP govt submits status report in HC

Shimla, Mar 1 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Government today submitted a status report in the HP High Court, pointing out irregularities in the appointments of Class three and four posts in the state during the previous Congress regime (1993-98).

The report was submitted before a division bench of the court comprising Justices V K Jhanji and Surjit Singh.

The court was hearing a petition filed by former chairman of the State Subordinate Service Selection Board (HPSSSB) S M Katwal, who had alleged that appointments during the Congress regime were made on political recommendations and without following proper procedure.

Mr Katwal had maintained that no action was taken on the Harsh Gupta and Avay Shukla committees, which were setup to look into the irregularities in the appointments.

Investigation conducted by police so far revealed that 4,854 cases of irregularities in appointments from December 1993 to February 1998.

The irregularities ranged from appointments without advertising the posts through the employment exchanges, without approval of the finance department, without following the roaster to appointments on political recommendations.

On being informed that an F I R had been lodged against public servants of various departments, boards, public sector undertakings and others and that the investigation was still on, the court directed the state government to file further status report in the case within two months.

UNI XC AS DP SI LR RN2202