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A Punjabi Heads Union Public Service Commission

IN the history of post independence India, it is for the first time that a Punjabi is chairman of an important constitutional institution. Gurbachan Jagat, a former senior officer from the Indian Police Service will take over as Chairman of the Union Public Service Commission from April 1. He is the first from the IPS to head this body tasked to recruit officers for all India services: Indian Foreign Service, Indian Administrative Service and Indian Police Services, besides a host of central services of different variety.

Jagat suits the position eminently as he had held with distinction several senior assignments as chief of police intelligence and administration Punjab, as director general of police in the trouble torn Jammu and Kashmir and as head of the 4 lakh strong Border Security Force. Suave, well read and with a clear mind, Jagat is already member of the UPSC. He is a prolific thinker and reader and dabbles in writing. Coming from a rural background, he has the interests of the rural areas close to his heart.

A Post Graduate in English Literature, Jagat joined the Indian Police Service in 1966. After Senior Superintendent of Police at Kapurthala. Bhatinda and Patiala he played a significant role in Amritsar (1978-1981), in dealing with the growing menace of Bhindrawale, the Akali-Nirankari clashes that was to be a great worry for the nation.  Heading the intelligence/security apparatus in Punjab during 1982-1990, he coordinated the fight against the insurgency in the State. In recognition of his role and efforts during these gruelling years. His rewards include Padma Shri in 1987, earlier Indian Police Medal for Meritorious Service in 1982 and President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service in 1992. He has also received the following service medals: Paschimi Star, Sangram Medal, Special Duty Medal (Punjab and J&K), Aantrik Seva Suraksha Medal, Operation Rakshak and Operation Vijay. As Director General of Police, Jammu & Kashmir (February 1997-December 2000) he lead the fight in Kashmir. A police force, which at one time had revolted against the State and on whose loyalties existed a question mark was not only rebuilt, but motivation levels reached such heights that it become the vanguard in the fight against terrorism. The force was completely modernized, re-equipped and its size almost doubled from 36,000 to 60,000. The fight against terrorism was taken right to the people with boys from the most inaccessible regions recruited on the spot in the Police. J&K Government rewarded him with the `The Police Officer of the Year' award in 2001.As Director General. Border Security Force (December 2000 - June 2002), the largest paramilitary organization in the world, he introduced a new perspective plan was put into operation for modernization and computerization, as a result of which the BSF today is professionally equal to any fighting force.