Chandigarh, October 20, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Lobbying for the post of Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC) Chairman is reportedly intensifying in administrative and political circles as the tenure of incumbent Alok Verma is set to end on October 22. The impending leadership change has also drawn attention to an existing vacancy in the commission, where one of the five sanctioned members’ positions has remained unfilled since April this year.
Verma, a retired 1989-batch Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer, assumed charge as HPSC Chairman on October 23, 2020, at the age of 56. According to Advocate Hemant Kumar of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, his six-year tenure will conclude on October 22, 2026.
Hemant said Article 316(2) of the Constitution provides that a member of a State Public Service Commission holds office for six years from the date of appointment or until attaining the age of 62 years, whichever is earlier. The same limit applies to the chairman.
One Member’s Post Vacant Since April
The HPSC has five sanctioned members’ positions in addition to the chairman. Rajendra Kumar’s tenure ended on April 16, 2026, after he attained the constitutional age limit of 62. He had joined the commission on September 23, 2022. Although his six-year term would otherwise have continued until September 2028, the age ceiling required him to demit office earlier.
The four serving members are Anand Kumar Sharma, whose tenure began in July 2021 and is due to end in July 2027; Jyoti Bainda, appointed in September 2022, whose term runs until September 2028; Mamta Yadav, appointed in April 2023, whose tenure extends until April 2029; and Dr Sonia Trikha, appointed in December 2023, whose term is scheduled to end in December 2029.
With Verma’s departure approaching, the state government faces the task of selecting a successor while also deciding how to fill the vacant member’s position.
Candidates from Non-Government Backgrounds Also Eligible
Hemant pointed out that Article 316(1) of the Constitution provides that, as nearly as may be, half the members of every Public Service Commission should be persons who have held office for at least ten years under the Union or a state government.
He said this provision does not require every appointee to be a retired IAS, IPS or other government officer. Candidates from academic, social or other non-governmental backgrounds may also be considered, subject to the applicable constitutional requirements.
If a regular chairman is not appointed immediately, an existing member could be considered for acting charge in accordance with the relevant constitutional and legal framework.
Retired IAS or IPS Officer Could Serve for Around Two Years
Speculation in administrative circles suggests that the government may consider a retired IAS or IPS officer for the chairmanship.
Hemant said there was no blanket constitutional bar on appointing a retired civil or police service officer. However, the age limit could significantly restrict the tenure of an officer retiring at 60.
“Even if such an officer is appointed chairman immediately after retirement at the age of 60, the constitutional ceiling of 62 years would restrict the tenure to approximately two years,” he said.
He added that a candidate would need to be sufficiently young at the time of appointment to complete a full six-year tenure without crossing the age limit of 62. An officer appointed at 60, therefore, could not serve the full six-year term.
Government May Consider Reducing Commission’s Strength
The government may also examine whether to reduce the HPSC’s sanctioned membership from five to four. Hemant said such a move could be considered through an amendment to the applicable Haryana Public Service Commission (Conditions of Service) Regulations, 2018, subject to the prescribed legal and constitutional procedure.
He recalled that the previous government led by Manohar Lal had reduced the commission’s membership strength from eight to five around five years ago.
The immediate focus, however, remains on who will succeed Verma and whether the government will choose an experienced serving or retired officer or someone from another eligible professional background.
With the chairman’s tenure ending on October 22 and one member’s post already vacant, the appointment is expected to attract considerable scrutiny. The HPSC plays a key role in recruitment to important Haryana government services, making transparency, fairness and public confidence in its selection process central concerns.
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