Haryana Assembly Witnesses High-Voltage Clash Over Recruitment Agencies
A high-voltage debate erupted in the Haryana Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, lasting over two hours, as Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini vigorously defended the BJP government at both the Centre and state levels. The discussion centered on an adjournment motion brought by the Congress party, targeting the Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC) and Haryana Staff Selection Commission (HSSC).
Treasury and Opposition Trade Barbs with Clichés and Humor
Interestingly, both treasury and opposition MLAs made extensive use of clichés, couplets, and jokes to attack each other during the heated exchange. On the government side, Minister Krishan Bedi, Mahipal Dhanda, Ranbir Gangwa, and other BJP MLAs spoke in support, with Chief Minister Saini concluding the discussion. Saini asserted that the Opposition had leveled false allegations regarding recruitment failures, claiming such statements caused significant hurt.
Congress Alleges Serious Irregularities in Recruitments
The opposition, led by Bhupinder Hooda, included prominent figures such as Aditya Surjewala, B B Batra, Aftab Ahmed, Geeta Bhukkal, former Speaker Raghubir Kadian, and Pooja Chaudhary. They delved deeply into the matter, alleging serious irregularities in recruitments conducted by HPSC and HSSC over the past 11 years. Congress MLAs presented detailed accounts of non-Haryana domiciled candidates being recruited for various services in the state, as well as the high volume of educated youth being placed in petty jobs or Group D positions.
Congress categorically accused the government of delaying recruitments under the guise of reforms. Additionally, they cited examples of exams being cancelled or rescheduled due to paper leak incidents, further questioning the transparency of the process.
INLD Targets Both Congress and BJP Governments
Adding to the political drama, Aditya Devi Lal Chautala of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) targeted both the Congress and BJP governments on the issue of recruitment, highlighting broader concerns across party lines.
Chief Minister Saini Counters with Data and Defenses
In response to the allegations, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini provided a robust defense. He clarified that both HPSC and HSSC are autonomous institutions, operating without government interference. Saini presented comparative data, noting that during the Congress's 10-year rule, only 3,593 recruitments were made through HPSC, whereas the current BJP government has recruited 11,017 candidates through HPSC in its tenure.
He emphasized that both commissions are now working impartially and transparently, free from any pressure. Regarding specific processes, Saini explained that the HSSC withdrew an advertisement for 8,653 posts because the Common Eligibility Test (CET) was scheduled to be held. To allow new candidates to participate, the Commission re-advertised with an increased number of posts.
Saini accused the Opposition of spreading confusion to mislead the youth of Haryana, asserting that the government conducts every exam transparently and without irregularities. He claimed that youth who had lost faith in these recruitment agencies have now regained confidence under the current administration.
Allegations of Nepotism and Backlog Reductions
The Chief Minister further alleged that during the Opposition's tenure, nepotism and regionalism dominated recruitment processes. He stated that 11 recruitments made under Congress rule were cancelled, leaving the future of 7,338 youth uncertain. Additionally, a Congress policy to make temporary employees permanent was overturned by the court, leading to orders to remove 4,645 employees within six months—a situation the present government has since addressed by adjusting those employees.
Addressing claims that jobs were given to outsiders in Assistant Engineer (AO) and Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) recruitments, Saini clarified that candidates were recruited on merit based on GATE exam results, with approximately 60% being youth from Haryana. He praised Haryana's talented youth for excelling in various sectors across India and globally.
Progress on Backlog Filling for Reserved Categories
Saini highlighted significant progress in reducing backlogs for reserved categories. In 2006, the backlog for Scheduled Castes (SC) was 14,995 and for Backward Classes (BC) was 5,929. By 2024, the government has reduced the SC backlog to 145, the BC(A) backlog to 180, and the BC(B) backlog to zero. He noted that the HSSC ran a special recruitment drive to fill these backlogs, demonstrating the government's commitment to inclusive hiring practices.
The debate underscored deep political divisions over recruitment policies in Haryana, with both sides presenting starkly contrasting narratives on transparency, efficiency, and fairness in public service appointments.
