Senior Congress leader and leader of opposition in Punjab Vidhan Sabha Partap Singh Bajwa on Friday raised urgent concerns over the current state of affairs within the Punjab State Commission for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), urging the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to take immediate action to fill the critical vacancies.

In a letter addressed to Mann, Bajwa underscored the distress faced by NRIs as the Commission’s operations have come to a standstill due to unoccupied key positions.

Expressing his apprehension, Bajwa emphasized that the prolonged inaction contradicts the very essence of the Commission’s establishment and its commitment to safeguard the NRIs’ interests.

The Leader of Opposition implored Mann to expedite the appointment process to fill the vacant positions, emphasizing the integral role NRIs play in the socio-economic fabric of the state.

The Punjab State Commission for NRIs, established under the Non-Resident Indians Act, 2011, has faced a significant setback since August, with key positions such as the chairman and members remaining vacant. Justice Shekher Dhawan's tenure as the chairman concluded on February 6, 2023, along with the tenures of members MP Singh, Gurjit Singh Lehal, Savinder Singh Sidhu. The last remaining member, Hardeep Singh Dhillon, completed his tenure on August 4.

“The consequences of this vacuum are severe, with no one available to address pending cases, pass orders, accept new complaints, or take necessary actions,” lamented Bajwa.

The Leader of Opposition highlighted the disheartening scenario of the staff reporting to the office daily without tasks, leaving NRIs – the very constituency the Commission was created to protect – in a state of uncertainty, awaiting government decisions on new appointments.