Lok Sabha Witnesses Tewari’s Push For Accountability In Chandigarh Recruitment

Tewari Flags Transparency Gaps in Chandigarh Recruitment Reply in LS

Raising the issue of livelihood security in Chandigarh, MP Manish Tewari has sought detailed accountability mechanisms in the Lok Sabha to ensure transparent and fair recruitment for local inhabitants. Taking up the matter in the Lok Sabha vide unstarred question number 4971, Tewari asked the Minister for Labour and Employment to provide year‑wise details of persons registered with the Employment Exchange, Chandigarh, during the last five years and the current year.

Tewari also questioned the manner in which registered candidates were provided employment in Chandigarh Administration Departments on temporary, contractual and outsourced basis. The MP further inquired whether the Chandigarh administration has issued any rule or order mandating that 20–25 per cent of outsourced recruitment be routed through the Employment Exchange and if so, the details of such rule or order. Tewari finally sought details of the monitoring mechanism put in place by the Government to ensure compliance with outsourcing norms by the agencies concerned.

Though the Minister of State for Labour and Employment Shobha Karandlaje did respond to the queries raised by Tewari, most of the substantive concerns were left unaddressed. The only concrete information she provided was the number of persons registered with the Employment Exchange over the last five years and during the current year.

While the Minister furnished year‑wise registration figures with the Employment Exchange, Chandigarh, the reply fell short of addressing the core issues raised by Tewari. In response to Tewari’s query on the monitoring mechanism for outsourcing agencies, the Minister offered only a generic statement that compliance is overseen by departments as per contracts and guidelines. “This reply, while formally correct, smartly ducked the core of the question – it failed to spell out any specific monitoring system, checks or enforcement measures”, stated Tewari.

Regarding Tewari’s query about the existence of any rule mandating 20–25 per cent outsourced recruitment through the Employment Exchange, the Minister simply stated that no such instructions exist. “While technically clear, the reply evaded the larger concern of why such a safeguard has not been instituted, leaving unanswered the question of how transparency and fairness in outsourced recruitment will be ensured”, Tewari observed.

Expressing his views on the matter and the Minister’s response, Tewari said that the reply underscores the lack of clarity and transparency in the government’s approach to ensuring fair employment opportunities for Chandigarh residents.