Leader of the Opposition in Punjab, Partap Singh Bajwa, has urgently appealed to the state's Governor, raising serious concerns over the abrupt cancellation of a fully concluded recruitment process for psychologists. In a letter sent on Monday, Bajwa described the government's move as "arbitrary" and demanded immediate intervention to protect the interests of the selected candidates and public health services.
Recruitment Process Completed, Then Cancelled
Bajwa detailed the sequence of events, stating that Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS) in Faridkot had initiated the recruitment drive. An advertisement for 343 contract-based psychologist posts under the Punjab Directorate of Health and Family Welfare was issued on April 24, 2025.
The process was reportedly thorough and transparent. It included a written examination held on May 26, 2025, with results declared on June 2, 2025. Counselling and document verification were completed by June 23, 2025, leading to a final merit list. According to Bajwa, the recruitment had reached its logical conclusion, pending only the issuance of appointment letters to the successful candidates.
Abrupt Cancellation and Shift to Outsourcing
However, in a surprising turn, the Punjab government cancelled the entire selection process on December 18, 2025, citing vague "administrative reasons." Bajwa highlighted the alarming fact that on the very same day, the government issued a memo directing the immediate engagement of 200 Counsellors or Psychologists through outsourcing.
This new hiring was to be completed within three weeks under District De-Addiction or Rehabilitation Societies. Bajwa argued that this sequence of events raises profound questions about arbitrariness, non-application of mind, and the deliberate circumvention of a duly concluded, merit-based recruitment system.
Call for Governor's Intervention and Justice
Bajwa informed the Governor that a delegation of 180 selected psychologists had met him on January 5, presenting a grievance he believes warrants urgent constitutional and administrative scrutiny. In his appeal, the opposition leader made two specific requests to the Governor.
Firstly, he urged him to call for a detailed report from the Department of Health and Family Welfare, explaining the reasons for cancelling the concluded process and opting for outsourcing identical posts. Secondly, and more critically, Bajwa appealed for the Governor to push the government to immediately issue appointment letters to the 180 selected candidates as per the final merit list from advertisement BFU-25/10.
Bajwa concluded his letter by expressing confidence that the Governor would intervene to safeguard the rule of law, ensure fairness in public employment, and protect the health interests of Punjab's citizens, who rely on uninterrupted mental health and de-addiction services.
