Move to amend PSEB Act for Ratra’s extension
Prabhjot Singh
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 21
Re-employment of superannuated bureaucrats is low on the priority of the Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party government in Punjab. The only exceptions have been two former chief secretaries - R.S. Mann and Y.S. Ratra.

While Mann, who was chief secretary during the previous term of Parkash Singh Badal as Chief Minister has been asked to head the State Pay Commission, Ratra has been asked to continue as chairman of the Punjab State Electricity Board pending amendment to the PSEB Act which allows its chairman to continue beyond the age of 65 years.

Earlier Mann headed the State Power Regulatory Commission.

Since the provisions of the PSEB Act provide for the chairman of the board to retire at the age of 65 years, the SAD-BJP government wants him to continue by amending the Act. Till the amendments are made, Ratra has been asked to continue till further notice.

Unlike the previous Congress government, the SAD-BJP has not been that liberal with re-employing ex-bureaucrats. There are some vacancies that can only be filled by appointing ex-bureaucrats.