New Delhi (03.02.2021): The Haryana government is said to be examining the possibility of appointing the outgoing Chairman of Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC) Ranjit Kumar Pachnanda (Retd IPS:1983:WB) as the Chairman of Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC).

Subject to legal clearance, Pachnanda may replace Jagjeet Singh who has been functioning as the HERC Chairman since August 2014.

Indianmandarins has learned that the state Govt has already sought legal advice on the issue. The issue involved is the constitutional provisions that bar the Heads of State Public Services Commissions from any appointment under the state governments. If cleared, Pachnanda may continue till 65 years of age.

The state government's preference for the West Bengal cadre IPS officer, notwithstanding the constitutional restrictions, has raised eyebrows in various quarters in Haryana as well as Delhi.

After Pachnanda retired in October 2018 as the ITBP DG, the Assam Govt picked him up as Security Adviser, and later the Haryana Govt in July 2019 appointed him as Chairperson of Haryana Public Service Commission.