UPSC chairman Manoj Soni resigns citing ‘personal reasons’

UPSC chairman Manoj Soni resigns citing ‘personal reasons’

Subject: Polity

Sec: Msc

Context:

Manoj Soni, chairman of UPSC, has resigned for personal reasons before his term ends in May 2029. Soni now wants to focus on “socio-religious activities”.

More about News:

• His resignation is “not in any way connected to controversies and allegations surrounding the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)”
• At the time of joining the MSU, Soni was the youngest ever Vice-Chancellor in India.
• A scholar of political science with specialisation in international relations, Soni taught international relations at Sardar Patel University (SPU), Vallabh Vidyanagar between 1991 and 2016, except for the period when he served as Vice-Chancellor of the two universities.
  UPSC is headed by a chairman and can have a maximum of ten members. At present, there are seven members in the UPSC, three less than its sanctioned strength.

Public Service Commissions:

• Article 312of the Indian Constitution, the Parliament is entitled to create one or more All India services (including an All India Judicial Service) common to the Union and the States.The recruitment to all these services is made by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
• Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is the central recruiting agencyin India.
  It is an independent constitutional body.The provisions regarding the composition of UPSC, appointment and removal of its members and the powers and functions of UPSC are provided in Part XIV of the Indian Constitution under Article 315 to Article 323.

Constitutional Provisions:

• Article 315:Constitution of Public Service Commissions (PSC) for the Union and for the States of India.
• Article 316:Appointment and term of office of members of UPSC as well as SPSC.
• Article 317:Removal and suspension of a member of both the UPSC or SPSC.

Composition of Union Public Service Commission:

• Appointment of Members: The Chairman and other members of the UPSC are appointed by the President of India.
• Term of Office: Any member of the UPSC shall hold office for a term of six years or till the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.
• Reappointment: Any person who has once held the office as a member of a Public Service Commission is ineligible for reappointment to that office.
• Resignation: A member of the Union Public Service Commission may resign from his/her office by submitting the written resignation to the President of India.
• Removal/Suspension of Members: The Chairman or any other member of UPSC shall only be removed from his/her office by order of the President of India.
  The President can suspend the Chairman or any other member from his/her office in respect of whom a reference has been made to the Supreme Court.
• Conditions for Removal: The Chairman or any other member of UPSC may be removed if he/she:
  • is adjudged an insolvent.
  • engages during his/her term of office in any paid employment outside the duties of his/her office.
  • is, in the opinion of the President, unfit to continue in office by reason of infirmity of mind or body.
• Restriction of Power: The conditions of service of a member of UPSC shall not be amended after his/her appointment that may lead to his/her disadvantage.