SC asks Haryana to respond to HSPC Chairman's plea by Nov 11

New Delhi, Oct 13 (UNI) The Supreme Court today granted time till November 11 to state of Haryana to respond to the petition filed by former Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC) Chairman Mehar Singh Saini and its other members challenging their removal by the Bhupinder Singh Hooda government.

A bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justices P Sathasivam and Aftab Alam granted time to the State Government when Senior Counsel Shanti Bhushan appearing for the state contended that it has sufficient material to satisfy the court within five minutes that the petitoners were not working in accordance with law and were indulging in irregularities and illegalities.

Mr Saini and nine other members of HPSC, who have been sacked on the recommendation of the Hooda Government were appointed by Om Prakash Chautala administration.

The present Congress government in the state abolished HPSC through a cabinet decision and recommended the removal of the chairman and its members to the state Governor. The Governor, in turn, referred the issue to the President Pratibha Devisingh Patil who approved the decision of the state cabinet.

The petitioners have raised the issue whether the state cabinet was competent to abolish a State Public Service Commission and whether a state Governor was competent to order the removal of the commission chairman and its members.

The apex court will hear the arguments on the issue raised by the petitioners on November 11 this year.

UNI SC GL RP NS1926