CHANDIGARH: Punjab Technical Education Minister Charanjit Singh Channi flipped a coin on Monday to appoint a mechanical engineering lecturer to a government polytechnic of his choice in Patiala. With two lecturers vying for the same post, Channi “ensured transparency” by leaving the appointment to the randomness of chance. A video clip of the incident went viral on social media, enraging the public.
In his defence, Channi said that while one candidate had more experienced, the other was better qualified, and the two were the ones to propose the idea of the toss which was ultimately done in the minister's office in the presence of some journalists. With an audience, Channi called over 35 other lecturers to his office and issued posting orders according to their choice. “Thirty seven lecturers were selected by the Punjab Public Service Commission. Issuing posting orders is the discretion of the minister. Instead, I issued their posting orders in their presence. Can there be a more transparent process?”
Channi said that it was for the first time in the history of technical education department that stations to newly-selected lecturers were allotted as per their choice, so they give their best and not chase politicians for a transfer. Former state education minister Daljeet Singh Cheema responded to the incident saying, “The job of a minister is to formulate a policy on postings and have it implemented. He should not indulge in such gimmicks.”
Channi however, remained unfazed insisting he had done nothing wrong. “Of the two lecturers who wanted to be in Patiala, one had better academic qualifications and the other was more experienced. I first asked both candidates to talk to each other and take a mutually acceptable decision. But when they failed to reach a consensus, they proposed to toss a coin.”
