ONE POST OF MEMBER ALSO LYING VACANT SINCE PAST 6 MONTHS, IN CASE RETIRED IAS OR IPS APPOINTED AS CHAIRMAN, HPSC, HE COULD SERVE FOR ONLY MAXIMUM TWO YEARS, SUBJECT TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL AGE LIMIT OF 62 : ADVOCATE HEMANT KUMAR
Face2News/Chandigarh
With the tenure of Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC) Chairman Alok Verma set to end on October 22, lobbying for the coveted post is reportedly gathering momentum in administrative and political circles. The impending vacancy has also brought the composition of the state’s premier recruitment body into focus, particularly as one member’s post has remained vacant since April this year.
Verma, a retired 1989-batch Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer, assumed charge as HPSC chairman on October 23, 2020, at the age of 56.
According to Advocate Hemant Kumar of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, his tenure is due to conclude on October 22, 2026, upon completion of six years in office.He said Article 316(2) of the Constitution stipulates that a member of a State Public Service Commission holds office for six years from the date of appointment or until attaining the age of 62 years, whichever is earlier. The same constitutional limit applies to the chairman.
One member’s post vacant since April
The HPSC has five sanctioned members’ positions apart from the chairman’s post. Following the completion of Rajendra Kumar’s tenure on April 16, 2026, one member’s position has remained vacant, with no replacement appointed so far.
Rajendra had joined the commission on September 23, 2022. Although his six-year term would otherwise have extended into September 2028, he demitted office on attaining the constitutional age limit of 62, Hemant explained.
The four serving members are Anand Kumar Sharma, whose tenure began in July 2021 and is due to end in July 2027; Jyoti Bainda, appointed in September 2022, whose term runs until September 2028; Mamta Yadav, appointed in April 2023, whose tenure extends until April 2029; and Dr Sonia Trikha, appointed in December 2023, whose term is scheduled to end in December 2029.
With Verma’s departure approaching, the government will have to consider the leadership transition while also addressing the existing vacancy among the members.
Political, academic or social background no bar
Hemant pointed out that Article 316(1) of the Constitution provides that, as nearly as may be, half the members of every Public Service Commission should be persons who have held office for at least ten years under the Union or a state government.
Accordingly, the constitutional framework does not require every appointee to be a retired IAS, IPS or other government officer. A person from an academic, social or other non-governmental background may also be considered, provided the constitutional requirements are met.
If the government does not immediately appoint a regular chairman, an existing member may be considered for the charge of acting chairman in accordance with the applicable constitutional and legal framework.
Retired IAS or IPS officer may have a shorter tenure
Speculation in administrative circles suggests that the state government may consider a retired IAS or IPS officer for the chairmanship.
Hemant said there is no blanket constitutional bar on appointing a retired civil or police service officer. However, the age ceiling could substantially limit the tenure of a candidate who retires from service at 60.
“Even if such an officer is appointed chairman immediately after retirement at the age of 60, the constitutional ceiling of 62 years would restrict the tenure to approximately two years,” Hemant said.
He added that an appointee who is to complete the full six-year tenure must be young enough at the time of appointment to remain below the age of 62 throughout that period. Consequently, a retired officer aged 60 would not be able to serve a full six-year term.
Government may revisit the commission’s strength
The question of the commission’s sanctioned strength could also come under consideration. Hemant said the government could examine reducing the number of members from five to four by amending the applicable Haryana Public Service Commission (Conditions of Service) Regulations, 2018, subject to the prescribed legal and constitutional procedure.
Hemant recalled that the previous Manohar Lal-led government had reduced the commission’s membership strength from eight to five around five years ago.
The immediate question, however, remains who will succeed Verma and whether the government will opt for an experienced serving or retired officer, or a candidate from another eligible professional background.
With the chairman’s tenure ending on October 22 and one member’s post already vacant, the forthcoming appointment is likely to attract close scrutiny, given the HPSC’s crucial role in recruitment to key state government services and the importance of maintaining public confidence in the fairness and independence of the selection process.
