Only Impeachment Can Remove TPSC Chairman: Tripura Govt. Left With No Option but to Wait Till April 2026 for the Tenure

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, January 2, 2026

The controversy surrounding the Chairman of the Tripura Public Service Commission (TPSC), Colonel Kush Kumar Sharma (Retd.), is unlikely to see an immediate resolution, as constitutional limitations leave the Tripura government with virtually no mechanism to remove him before the end of his tenure in April 2026.

Colonel Kush Kumar Sharma was appointed as Chairman of the Tripura Public Service Commission on July 27, 2023. As per official records and references reflected in Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) newsletters and other credible sources, his tenure is scheduled to continue until April 14, 2026, subject to constitutional provisions and service rules.

The issue resurfaced sharply following an incident on the night of December 29 at Polo Towers Hotel, Agartala, where Colonel Sharma was allegedly involved in an unprecedented altercation with Minister Sushanta Chowdhury. The incident, reportedly occurring in an intoxicated state and in the presence of Prabashi Tripurabashis and media personnel, triggered widespread outrage after visuals and accounts circulated rapidly on social media platforms.

According to sources, the state government informally expected the TPSC Chairman to resign in the aftermath of the incident. However, Colonel Sharma has reportedly made it clear that he has no intention of stepping down from the constitutional post. This firm stance, combined with legal and constitutional barriers, has significantly constrained the government’s options.

Senior officials and constitutional experts point out that the Chairman of a State Public Service Commission holds a protected constitutional position. Removal is possible only through impeachment by Parliament, following a detailed and time consuming constitutional process. While the Governor of Tripura theoretically holds certain powers related to suspension under exceptional circumstances, sources in the Raj Bhavan indicate that the Governor is presently not inclined to exercise such authority.

A former retired member of the Tripura Public Service Commission has also raised serious questions over the eligibility and appropriateness of Colonel Sharma’s appointment. According to him, the post of TPSC Chairman has traditionally been held by retired District Judges, IAS officers of Principal Secretary rank, or senior IPS officers of IGP rank. “A retired Army Colonel is broadly comparable to an SSP-level officer. Appointing someone of that rank to a constitutional body like the TPSC undermines the original intent and eligibility standards of the post,” the former member alleged. He further remarked that while military service brings discipline and leadership, it may not adequately substitute for the administrative and quasi-judicial experience required to head the Commission.

The controversy has deepened further after the recent incident, which critics have described as shameful and damaging to the dignity of an institution responsible for selecting and promoting the state’s future administrative leadership. The Tripura Public Service Commission plays a crucial role in conducting recruitment examinations for civil services and government posts, as well as promotion related examinations for in-service officers. Observers argue that any perceived loss of moral authority at the top risks eroding public confidence in the recruitment process.

Despite mounting criticism from civil society and social media users, political sources allege that Colonel Sharma’s appointment was backed by strong political influence, including a powerful BJP lobby based in Delhi. This, they claim, has made Tripura BJP leaders and senior administrative officials reluctant or effectively powerless to initiate removal proceedings.

In the present situation, the Tripura government is understood to have accepted that no immediate administrative or political solution exists. With several major recruitment examinations and internal reforms currently underway at the Commission, the state is unwilling to risk institutional instability by pursuing a prolonged constitutional confrontation.

As things stand, without impeachment proceedings in Parliament or an extraordinary intervention by the Governor, Colonel Kush Kumar Sharma is expected to continue as Chairman of the Tripura Public Service Commission until April 14, 2026, leaving the Tripura government with no practical alternative but to endure the situation until the completion of his tenure.

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