Chandigarh-The appointment of Sanjay Gupta, an outsider to Punjab, as Chairman of the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission for the next five years raises serious questions about transparency, fairness, and respect for Punjab’s interests. It is deeply concerning that 26 other eligible candidates were overlooked, and that the requirement of a “working knowledge of Punjabi” was reportedly removed from the eligibility criteria to facilitate this appointment.
Punjab is home to countless qualified, experienced, and deserving professionals who understand the state’s unique challenges, its institutions, and its people. Ignoring local talent while altering established criteria sends a troubling message that merit and Punjab’s interests are being sacrificed for political considerations.
The people of Punjab deserve answers. Why were qualified Punjabi candidates bypassed? Who authorized the removal of the Punjabi language requirement? And why is a crucial regulatory institution being handed over through a process that appears to favor political recommendations over transparency and merit?
Punjab’s institutions must serve Punjab first. The state cannot continue to be treated as a political laboratory where decisions are imposed from outside while local voices and expertise are ignored.
I strongly condemn this appointment process and demand complete transparency from the Punjab government regarding the selection criteria, the role of political influence, and the reasons for disregarding deserving candidates from Punjab.
Punjab belongs to Punjabis, and its institutions must reflect the aspirations, language, and interests of its people.