Ranjeet Singh Pankaj,the man Chief Minister Mayawati has recommended to the Raj Bhavan for appointment as the states Chief Information Commissioner (CIC),has a dubious track record. As the District Magistrate of Gorakhpur,he was involved in the appointment of 3,000 safai karamcharis who were all removed when an inquiry found evidence of corruption. All the appointments were quashed when the reports of corruption were found true, said Gorakhpur Divisional Commissioner P K Mohanty on Sunday. The appointments were made last year on the recommendation of a committee headed by the DM. Following complaints of corruption,Mohanty was asked to look into the matter. Those who lost their jobs are fighting the case in the high court, said Mohanty,who had sent a report to the government,recommending action against those involved. Pankaj said the anomalies were carried out by the panel formed for the selection of safai karamcharis. As the head of the district administration,incidentally,fingers were pointed at me too. But it would be unfair to drag me into this controversy, said Pankaj,an IAS officer promoted from PCS. Pankaj,who was later transferred to Lucknow and posted as Secretary,Mining,took VRS on Friday. On Sunday,he sent his consent for taking up the new assignment to the Governor and is now awaiting a call to take oath. The decision to recommend Pankajs name was taken on June 24. Leader of Opposition Shivpal Singh Yadav boycotted the meeting of the selection committee in protest against the governments refusal to give him details of the candidates in advance. Chief Minister Mayawati headed the committee which included,interestingly,Mining Minister Babu Singh Kushwaha. Pankaj says he is looking forward to his new responsibility and,as CIC he would aim to ensure transparency and accountability in working of all public authority,including the state government. Pankaj is the governments second choice for CIC after the Governor turned down its recommendation for appointment of retired IAS officer Ram Kumar who had faced corruption charges and was even dismissed from service,although later reinstated by the Central Administrative Tribunal. The post has been vacant for almost a year since the last CIC M A Khan,a retired judge,was suspended on charges of misdemeanour.
