The Chhattisgarh High Court, in response to a petition filed by Bharatiya Janata Party legislator Nanki Ram Kanwar, representing the Rampur constituency in the Chhattisgarh assembly, has ordered the state government to temporarily halt the appointment of 18 candidates who were selected through the Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission (CGPSC) examination in 2021. The court has instructed the government to investigate allegations of favoritism raised in the petition. The order also affects the appointment of two candidates who had received appointment letters, pending the outcome of the petition.
Kanwar’s petition raised concerns about the selection process for these 18 candidates, alleging that they had familial connections to politicians, industrialists, civil servants, and even CGPSC Chairman Taman Singh Sonvani. The Chhattisgarh government has stated that it will conduct a thorough investigation in accordance with the court’s order.
In an official statement, the Chhattisgarh government explained the situation:
“The petition concerning PSC selection was heard before the high court, and as per the information received from the Advocate General’s Office, the state government has given a statement before the court that the matter will be thoroughly investigated and based on the investigation, a response will be submitted to the court. The government has also stated before the court that till the next hearing of the case, the accused candidates, who have not been appointed, will not be finalized further, and those who have been appointed will be subjected to the order of the Court, as the case may be.”
The government further revealed that the high court has scheduled the next hearing for a week from now and has instructed both the state government and the CGPSC to investigate the authenticity of the allegations made by the petitioner. Additionally, the court has directed the petitioner to involve the selected individuals as parties in the case and make the necessary amendments to the petition. The court has also cautioned the petitioner that false information could lead to appropriate action being taken.
The CGPSC had advertised vacancies for 171 posts across 20 categories of services in 2021, with the 2021 mains examination taking place on May 26, 27, 28, and 29, 2022. A total of 509 candidates were shortlisted for interviews, ultimately resulting in 170 candidates being selected for 171 available positions.
