Outrage as Modi govt bypasses UPSC to fill 10 vacant Joint Secretary level posts

New Delhi, 11 Jun 2018 [Fik/News Sources]: Opposition parties led by the Congress on Sunday in one voice slammed the Modi government's decision to fill up the 10 vacant Joint Secretary level posts, bypassing the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

“This is being done so that people who are with RSS or BJP come on this position and will then directly influence the decisions taken by the government,” Congress leader PL Punia said.

Echoing similar concerns CPI (M) leader Sitaram Yechuri said that the move was not only a ploy to induct people with RSS leanings but also aimed at undermining reservation.

"Why are time-tested UPSC and SSC being sought to be undermined? To fill IAS ranks with Sanghis and undermine reservation too, in the BJP's last few months in office", Yechuri said in a message posted on his Twitter account.

Punia and Yechuri were responding to the advertisement which appeared online and in newspapers on Sunday calling applications from professionals working in state governments as well as in private sector to fill the joint secretary level posts.

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and Staff Selection Commission (SSC) are normally assigned the job to fill such vacancies. UPSC and SSC make selections after vigorous exams and personal interviews.

The advertisement published in leading newspapers mentioned that the government was looking for 10 “outstanding individuals”, working with the state government or in private sector, with expertise in the areas of revenue, financial services, economic affairs, agriculture, cooperation and farmers’ welfare, road transport and highway, shipping, environment, forests and climate change, new and renewable energy, civil aviation and commerce.

Tagging the copy of the advertisement issued by Department of Personnel and Training, Bihar Leader of Opposition and RJD member Tejashwi Yadav said the government had made a joke out of the Constitution and criticised the moved as a violation of the statute.

"How can this Manuvadi government sideline the UPSC and appoint whoever they like to important posts like joint secretaries without conducting exams? This is a violation of the constitution and reservation. Tomorrow they will appoint a PM and cabinet without conducting elections. They have made a joke out of the constitutions,” Tejashwi tweeted.