Plea in HC challenging appointment, promotion of Punjab Chief Secy VK Janjua
Mohali, July 18: A plea has been filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court challenging the appointment and promotion of Punjab Chief Secretary VK Janjua.
Petitioner Tulsi Ram Mishra alleged that a corruption case was registered against VK Janjua in 2009 when he was Director, Industries Department. He was allegedly caught red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 2 lakh. It has also been argued that his promotion was illegal and should be cancelled.
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The petitioner said the corruption case against Punjab Chief Secretary VK Janjua was still pending in the court and also the issue of sanctioning by the prosecution was also pending, therefore the promotion was not only illegal but also unconstitutional.
Notably, on July 5, the Punjab Government posted Vijay Kumar Janjua, IAS, as Chief Secretary to the Government of Punjab and in addition Principal Secretary, Department of Personnel and Vigilance in place of Anirudh Tewari, IAS. Earlier, he was posted as Special Chief Secretary, Jails and in addition Special Chief Secretary, Elections.
As per information, VK Janjua had been chosen on the basis of his seniority. The only officers senior to him were Arun Goel, who is on central deputation, Vini Mahajan, also on central deputation, Anjali Bhawra and Ravneet Kaur.
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The Punjab Vigilance Bureau had arrested Janjua while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 2 lakh from a Ludhiana-based industrialist on November 9, 2009. An FIR was registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act. On November 11, 2009, VK Janjua was removed from the office of Director, Industries, Punjab.
-PTC News with inputs by Neha Sharma
