At a time when the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) is attempting to complete the process of 1 lakh recruitments announced by chief minister Vasundhara Raje in her budget, the departure of the chairman and the secretary has turned out to be the proverbial spanner in the works for the recruitment agency.

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The position of chairman has fallen vacant after Radhey Shyam Garg completed his tenure, while secretary Giri Raj Singh Kushwaha was transferred to Jaipur as commissioner with the labour department in the massive reshuffle undertaken by the state government recently. He has been replaced by Prem Chand Berwal who was until now serving as the district collector of Rajsamand. The chairman can serve for six years or till the age of 62, whichever is earlier.

The positions of chairman and secretary are considered key positions in RPSC though there are 7 members of the commission. While the name for new RPSC chairman is not yet final, newly posted secretary Berwal is expected to join soon as he is yet to be relieved of his duties. Speaking to DNA, Berwal said the ongoing recruitment process which is the priority of RPSC will be his priority as well. He said he could be joining by Thursday.  In the year when assembly elections are to take place, the state government has launched a recruitment overdrive aimed at creating more than one lakh jobs. The RPSC has been working on conducting the examinations for the various posts that were advertised in different departments of the government.

Since the decision-making now rests with the new secretary and a chairman, the process is likely to slow down, a source said.  

RPSC has in recent months, especially after March 27, issued advertisements for recruitments on thousands of posts which include 980 positions for Rajasthan administrative and subordinate services and 9,000 positions for grade II senior teachers. Vacancies for sub inspectors, assistantstatistical officer, vice principal / superintendent ITI, assistant town planners, school lecturers have also been advertised.

The process was being coordinated by chairman and secretary with other officials. “With this change, the new chairman and secretary will first have to take stock of the ongoing process and will have to assess the stage at which the recruitment processes are currently underway,” the official said.