HC raps HSSC for opaque department allocation process The Punjab and Haryana High Court has criticized the Haryana Staff Selection Commission (HSSC) for its "opaque and arbitrary" method of allocating government departments to selected candidates. In a detailed ruling, Justice Harpreet Singh Brar stated that the commission’s practice of prioritizing candidates based on the number of preferences they listed, rather than their merit rankings, violated constitutional principles of equality and fairness. The court emphasized that the current system constitutes a clear case of misconduct and directed the Haryana chief secretary to investigate the conduct of HSSC members and office-bearers. The court highlighted that the HSSC adopted a resolution in October 2019, which gave preference to candidates who submitted three or fewer preferences. However, this criterion was never disclosed to applicants, depriving them of the opportunity to make informed choices. The court noted that the concealment of such a critical factor undermines transparency and fairness in the recruitment process. It further ordered the chief secretaries of Haryana and Punjab to issue clear instructions ensuring that future department allocations follow lawful, comprehensive, and rational criteria to maintain transparency and integrity in public employment. The ruling underscores the importance of accountability in administrative processes and aims to prevent similar issues in the future. The court’s directive to review the conduct of HSSC officials reflects its commitment to upholding constitutional values and ensuring equitable treatment for all candidates.#haryana #haryana_staff_selection_commission #punjab_and_haryana_high_court #justice_harpreet_singh_brar #haryana_chief_secretary
