Sushma Swaraj's sister Vandana Sharma made HPSC member

CHANDIGARH: Academician Vandana Sharma, the younger sister of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, was today made a member of Haryana Public Service Commission.

Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki here today administered the oath of office and secrecy to Sharma along with Kulbir Chhikkara, Chief Editor of Hari Bhoomi group of newspapers, as members of HPSC, a release said.

Both took the oath in Hindi at a ceremony held at Haryana Raj Bhavan here.

The function was attended by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, his cabinet colleagues including Education Minister Ram Bilas Sharma, Health Minister Anil Vij, Ambala MP Rattan Lal Kataria, senior officers of Haryana Government besides others, the release said.

Sharma had contested last year's Haryana assembly elections from Safidon constituency but lost to an Independent candidate.

According to an official release here, Sharma has M.A. and Ph.D. degree in Political Science and has worked as an Associate Professor for 21 years at SGPG Mahila Mahavidhyalaya in Haryana's Narwana city, it said.

Kulbir Chhikkara is M.A., Ph.D. in English Literature and M.A. (Mass Communication), and hails from district Sonipat.

"He served as a lecturer in the Department of English Kurukshetra University for over a decade. At present he was serving as Chief Editor of Hari Bhoomi group of newspapers," the release said.

Meanwhile, replying to the questions of mediapersons on the sidelines of today's function, Cabinet minister Ram Bilas Sharma refuted charges that both were made HPSC members on the basis of consideration rather than merit.

There is no question of favouring any near and dear ones, Bilas said.

Vandana Sharma said that she will discharge the responsibility entrusted on her.