Chandigarh March 13: While emphasizing the need of merit based selection in government jobs for ensuring an effective and efficient system of governance, Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Manohar Lal said that about 70,000 youth have been recruited in the State through Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC) and Haryana Staff Selection Commission (HSSC) in the last five years by adopting a transparent recruitment policy. Besides, recruitment of 18,218 candidates of Group D have been made in one go in a transparent manner without any recommendations which have further enhanced the faith of people in the State Government.

Mr Manohar Lal was speaking as a Chief Guest in the inaugural session of 22nd National Conference of State Public Service Commissions here today. He said that on the call made by Prime Minister, Mr Narendra Modi, the State Government has also scrapped interview process in Class III and IV category posts.

He said that the present State Government has recognized the talent of the candidates which the previous government neglected during their tenure. Apart from this, we have also eliminated the game of ‘Parchi and Kharchi’ in the selection process thus paving the way for meritorious candidates to join government service.

The Chief Minister said that most of the recruitment made during the previous regimes are facing litigation but contrary to this, as a result of transparent recruitment policy adopted by the present state government is that candidates are being selected in the government jobs in fair and transparent manner without any irregularities. For this, he also congratulated the HPSC and SSC for adopting such a flawless system.

Describing corruption as a burning issue, the Chief Minister exhorted the recruitment agencies to take all out efforts for further bringing transparency in the selection process as this way only they could discharge their responsibility towards building a strong nation. He said that the present State Government has been continuously working towards building a transparent system of recruitment in the State. It is for the first time when the State Government has eliminated the interview process . Apart from this, we are also going to implement another reform under which, the names of only those HCS or Class I officers would be sent to UPSC for selection as IAS officers who would clear the written examination to be conducted by the HPSC.

The Chief Minister said that it is the result of the atmosphere being created by the Government in the State that the per centage of candidates passing prestigious examinations like National Eligibility cum Entrance Test ( NEET), JEE and other engineering examinations are continuously increasing. He said that though population wise Haryana is comparatively a small State, yet on-an average 40 candidates are clearing IAS exam every year.

While hailing the contribution of recruitment agencies including the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for selecting meritorious candidates, he said that the work of these agencies are like a jeweler who have to choose best gems. He said that there is a need for these Agencies to bring about effective changes in their system keeping in view the changing times. He said that online system of examination should be introduced as this would not only enable the candidates to take examination nearer to their homes thus save their travelling time but also help in enhancing transparency. Describing cheating as a challenge, he asked the agencies to find new and effective ways to deal with this problem.

Mr Manohar Lal said that the present State Government is giving good salary package and facilities to the officers of Class I and II including the Doctors so as to bring brilliant people into the government system which otherwise usually go to the private sector due to want of good salaries. Similarly, during the selection process, local language in which the candidate communicates should be given priority so that he could effectively deal with the people.

He said that it is a matter of pride that Haryana is hosting this two-day National Conference of State Public Service Commissions for the second time after a gap of six years. He hoped that the deliberations held here would go a long way in further improving the functioning of the recruitment agencies which would result in increasing people’s faith in the governance.

Speaking on this occasion, Chairman UPSC Mr Arvind Saxena said that the State Public Service Commissions have the mandate for making competition based selections, provide a secure and stable Civil Service which is necessary for transparent and impartial governance. He said that in two recent instances, that is the lateral entry scheme for Joint Secretaries level officers of the Government of India and empanelment of Director General of Police for States and Union Territories, the Union Government and the Supreme Court of India respectively reposed faith in UPSC for carrying out fair and transparent selections purely on merit basis.

Mr Saxena said that as it is a fact that the government jobs have become the more preferable options among the youth, challenge before us is to select most suitable candidates in a transparent manner, redesigning and improving our systems and make the competitive examination less stress free for the candidates. He said that between the year 2007-08 and 2018-19, UPSC have developed IT tools to reduce the processing time for direct recruitment cases from 397 days to 194 days. Apart from this, some innovative steps have also been taken to streamline the process for screening applications.

Chairman, Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC) Mr R.K Pachnanda said that the Commission has adopted several measures to ensure free and fair selection process which enables us to select good meritorious candidates who would perform their duties judiciously and lead to better system of administration and governance. He said that HPSC is working with the moto of Yogyata, Nishpakshta and Pardarshita to realize the vision of ensuring a free and fair system of selection in the State without any recommendation and interference.

While describing the Conference of State Public Service Commissions, he said that it provides an appropriate platform to interact, discuss and share best practices adopted by different states in order to improve the process of selection of candidates on merit basis by ensuring transparency and impartiality.

Chairman, Standing Committee of National Conference of State Public Service Commission Prof. Ghanta Chakrapani said that the basic idea of the conference is to meet frequently, discuss openly and implement the ideas for mutual benefit. In the last four years we have brought out several changes in the functioning of the National Conference as well as the standing committee. We have introduced training programs for Chairmen and Members of all State Public Service Commissions. Apart from this, workshops are also being organized for the staff working at different levels. He said that several sub-committees have also been constituted to prepare model and common rules and procedures.

While presenting vote of thanks, Secretary, HPSC Mr Ashok Meena thanked Chief Minister, Mr Manohar Lal for sparing his valuable time for the Conference of State Public Service Commissions. He said that it is the vision of the Chief Minister to ensure that recruitment in the State are made purely on merit basis only. He said that the State Government has abolished the practice of interview system in the Group C and D category of posts which has infused more transparency in the selection process.

Amount those present on this occasion included Chief Secretary Mrs Keshni Anand Arora, Chairmen and Members of Public Service Commissions of various States and other senior officers of the State Government.