HC notice to Haryana chief secy, principal secy, education on HSTSB selection

Taking cognizance of a petition alleging favoritism and nepotism in the selection of the members of the newly-constituted, Haryana School Teachers Selection Board (HSTSB) by the Haryana government, the Punjab and Haryana high court on Tuesday issued notice to Haryana chief secretary and principal secretary, education seeking their response on the contentions raised in the petition.
Importantly, the HSTSB was recently constituted by the Hooda government to recruit all categories of teachers in the state education department.
The division bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ritu Bahri has issued the notice after hearing a petition filed by one Maman Chand Sharma of Bhiwani.
The petitioner has challenged Sections 5 and 6 of the HSTSB Act 2011 whereby the CM and others has allegedly made the provisions for constitution of a collegium of persons of their choice and have crafted the provisions in such a manner so as to appoint the members already decided by the government.
Petitioner further submitted that the close relatives of Bhupinder Singh Hooda and his MP son Deepinder Hooda and chief parliamentary secretary (CPS) Rao Dan Singh were first privately selected by the government and thereafter, this Act providing constitution of the board was framed in a manner so as these persons may be accommodated.
He also alleged that a collegium visualized under Act itself provides for yes man of the government. The then chief secretary Urvashi Gulati co-opted Lt. Gen. DDS Sandhu, vice chancellor Kurukshetra University, who is known for his close connections with CM being his schoolmate at Sainik School Kunjpura, Karnal. The collegium did not call for any names of public-spirited academicians, scientist, jurist, and judges, but considered and forwarded the name of Brig Nand Lal Punia (as chairman), T P Bose, Jagdish Prasad and others.
The names of said persons have been forwarded only on account of their close links with the CM, his son Deepinder Hooda and CPS Rao Dan Singh.
Petitioner also informed that Brig Nand Lal Punia is close relative of Bhupinder Singh Hooda, T P Bose has remained a teacher of Deepender Singh Hooda family and Jagdish Prasad is real brother of CPS Rao Dan Singh. Now the case would come up for further hearing on October 1.