In the first fallout of the recruitment scam, the Punjab government has cancelled the appointments of 639 people to various posts recommended by the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) in the light of the arrest of its chairman Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu. Chief minister Amarinder Singh told reporters in Chandigarh on Monday that 3,446 appointments made during the five-year tenure of Sidhu would be scrutinised. Singh said the state government has written to Punjab governor J F R Jacob recommending removal of Sidhu as chairman. The governor is expected to write to the President, he said.
He said the 639 posts, for which PPSC had made recommendations, would be advertised again and fresh recruitment process initiated.

“I can assure that no one would be spared because of his influential connection,” Singh said adding action would be taken against all those who gave bribe to get various posts.

Investigations are still on and already movable and immovable assets of Sidhu worth Rs.25 crore have been detected, he said. Singh said the 3,446 appointees included 91 officers of Punjab Civil Service and allied services.
“I cannot make a blanket statement that all 3,446 got selected by giving money,” the chief minister said.

Bureau Report