The J&K administration committed a second faux pas within a fortnight, when it appointed senior IAS officer BR Sharma (Retd.IAS:1984:JK) as the Chairman of J&K Public Service Commission (PSC), but revoked its order within hours. It was found out that Sharma had already got a two year extension in his current post as Chairman of Staff Selection Commission (SSC), by the Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC), headed by the Prime Minister.
Just a few days ago, the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, headed by the LG, had announced the cancellation of annual Amarnath Yatra, only to back track within a few hours.
According to sources, the order for appointment of Sharma was issued by the UT administration, despite the fact that on April 20, the ACC had already granted him a 2 year extension in SSC, and a replacement had to be found before Sharma could be relieved for J&K.
Sources also said that as the SSC Chairman, Sharma had not secured the mandatory nod of the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), which is the Nodal Agency for such clearances.
Sharma was due to retire from SSC on April 30, but was re-employed for two years with the approval of the ACC.
The sources pointed out that the UT government appointed Sharma without following due procedure. It should have allowed the ACC to first find his replacement before relieving him.
