LoP Cheema questions officer’s posting in Punjab’s SC panel

Leader of opposition Harpal Singh Cheema on Friday raised questions over the appointment of a non-scheduled caste (SC) IAS officer as member secretary of the Punjab State Scheduled Caste Commission.

In a statement, Cheema said the recent appointment of IAS officer Indu Malhotra was clearly an attempt to infringe on the rights of the SC community and violation of Section 3(2)(f) of the Punjab State Commission for Scheduled Castes (Amendment) Act, 2006.

As per the Act, one member-secretary is to be appointed by the state government from among the retired or serving officers of IAS or Punjab Civil Service belonging to scheduled castes, not below the rank of addition secretary. Cheema, who was picked as the new leader of opposition by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) last week, has demanded immediate withdrawal of the decision.

“It is against provisions of the Act. We will not let this happen. I will take up the matter with the government. I will write to chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh for a meeting to raise this and several other important issues pertaining to SCs in the state,” he said.

The state government had, while ordering transfers and postings of 57 IAS and PCS officers on Sunday, posted Malhotra as director and special secretary, welfare of SCs and backward castes, and in addition member secretary of the SC Commission.