Punjab Minister flips coin to decide on job posting

Charanjit Singh Channi says move aimed at bringing transparency

Chandigarh, 12/03/2017: Punjab Congress President Capt. Amarinder Singh being greeted by state in-charge Asha Kumari, Charanjit Singh Channi, party leader Harish Chaudhary and AICC observer Ashok Gehlot after his election as CLP leader at Punjab Congress office in Chandigarh on March 12, 2017. Photo: Special Arrangement

A Punjab Minister flipped a coin to decide on posting a lecturer in a polytechnic institute. The episode has stirred a controversy, though the Minister told The Hindu that “the move was aimed at bringing transparency”.

Punjab Technical Education Minister Charanjit Singh Channi had on Monday invited 37 lecturers for giving them posting orders of their choice after an open discussion with them. All the candidates were recently selected through the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) examination and were to be posted in various institutes across the State.

While 35 lecturers amicably reached a consensus over the station of their choice, two candidates insisted on getting a posting at the same station in Patiala, which resulted in a deadlock.

To break the impasse, Mr. Channi decided to toss a coin, which he said, “was done after both the candidates had agreed to it [tossing]”. The Minister said, “My intention was absolutely clear. It was aimed at bringing transparency in government working, which was lacking in the previous regime of SAD-BJP.”

“I had invited all the candidates to amicably select a station of their choice, which would help in improving the standard of education. Thirty-five candidates were given the posting of their choice. Two candidates — one from Patiala and another from Nabha — couldn’t reach a consensus. They asked me to take a final call and opted to flip a coin to which I agreed,” said Mr. Channi.

‘Unnecessary controversy’

He said an unnecessary controversy was being created about the entire episode. “In fact, it should be taken positively as the action has only showed transparency in the working of the Congress government,” he said.

The Minister alleged that during the previous Akali-BJP regime, candidates had to pay a huge sum of money to get a station of their choice. “But our government is completely transparent,” he added.

The Minister’s move was slammed by the Opposition Shiromani Akali Dal and BJP, which demanded his removal from the post.

“A Minister has to maintain the decorum of the Ministerial berth which Channi has failed to do by deciding an official matter through tossing a coin. He has brought embarrassment to the government and he should be dropped from the Ministry before he indulges in more such acts,” said State BJP secretary Vineet Joshi.

SAD spokesman and former Minister Daljit Singh Cheema said flipping a coin by the Minister showed how serious the Amarinder Singh government was regarding governance in Punjab.

“It seems that the Ministers are just passing time and enjoying their Ministerial berths,” he added.

With inputs from PTI