CHANDIGARH (The Stellar News ): It is going to be a Deja Vu as Punjab State Vigilance Commission (PSVC) is all set to be abolished soon which would be second time in the State during the past fifteen and a half years. A Bill titled Punjab State Vigilance Commission (Repeal) Bill, 2022 is listed for introduction and its subsequent passage by the State Assembly today on Sep 30, 2022. Since Bhagwant Mann led AAP Government in Punjab commands a whopping majority in the House, the passing of Bill is a merely formality. Also, there seems no chance of this Bill being referred to any specially constituted (read Select) Committee of the House for due examination and report. Meanwhile, an Advocate at Punjab and Haryana High Court, Hemant Kumar, says that the law for constituting Punjab State Vigilance Commission (PSVC) has been enacted by the State Assembly not once by twice during the past 16 years, firstly during Oct, 2006 and then in Nov, 2020 and interestingly both during the tenure of Captain Amarinder Singh led Congress dispensation in the State.
The PSVC Act, 2006, which was enacted during the tenure of 12th Punjab Vidhan Sabha as Punjab Act No. 20 of 2006 was got repealed immediately after constitution of 13th Punjab Vidhan Sabha in Mar, 2007 after Parkash Singh Badal led SAD-BJP Government assumed reins of power in the State. Before abolition of then PSVC, however in Oct, 2006 a former Judge of Punjab and Haryana High Court, Justice Amar Dutt (Retired) was appointed as State Chief Vigilance Commissioner (SCVC) and who was administered Oath by then Punjab Governor, General SF Rodrigues (Retd). Although as per then PSVC Act, 2006, the tenure of
State Chief Vigilance Commissioner (SCVC) was for a period of six years or 65 years of age, whichever is earlier. But since PSCC Act, 2006 itself was got repealed by Badal Government from State Assembly, hence tenure of Justice Amar Dutt (Retd) as SCVC also abruptly came to a end with the abolition of PSVC. His tenure otherwise was till Aug, 2009. Be that as it may, Hemant asserts that the prevalent PSVC Act, 2020 was got enacted by Captain Amarinder Singh led second Cong dispensation in the State during the tenure of 15th Punjab Vidhan Sabha in Nov, 2020. Thereafter, in March, 2021 a former Judge and also Acting Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court, , Justice Mehtab Singh Gill (Retired) was appointed as SCVC. He was administered Oath by then Punjab Governor, VPS Badnore on April 7, 2021. As per PSVC Act, 2020, the tenure of SCVC is for a period of five years. There is no age bar. Hence Justice Gill (Rtd) current tenure is otherwise till Apr, 2026.
Meanwhile Hemant says that as per provisions of PSVC Act, 2020, the Salary and Allowances of SCVC are same as those of a Judge of the High Court. Also it is provided in the Act that the salary, allowances and pension payable to and the other conditions of service of the SCVC or any State Vigilance Commissioner shall not be varied to his disadvantage after his appointment. But the moot but significant legal point is that in case the Act itself means PSVC Act, 2020 is itself got repealed by Punjab Assembly, then if in that scenario, would Justice Gill (Rtd) would be able to claim compensation in the form of Salary and Allowances etc. for his unexpired tenure of about three and a half years.
Hemant refers to a similar sort of case in Haryana when a former Judge of Punjab and Haryana High Court, Justice IP Vashisth, who was later transferred as such to Allahabad High Court but before attaining age of superannuation of 62 years,he resigned as HC Judge to join as LokPal (LokAyukt) in Haryana after his appointment as such was made by the then Bansi Lal led HVP-BJP Government in Haryana with effect from Jan, 1999. But after few months, there was a change of guard in the State and OP Chautala led INLD-BJP Government came to power which got repealed the Haryana Lokayukta Act, 1997 itself from the State Assembly which led to Justice Vashisth’s unceremonious ouster. He thereafter had to approach the High Court for claiming Salary and Allowances for his unexpired tenure which was appropriately granted by the Court in the year 2005. On similar lines, Justice Gill (Rtd), consequent upon his unceremonious ouster as SCVC, can too approach the High Court.
