Calcutta, Feb. 26: The chairman of the West Bengal Public Service Commission (WBPSC) has resigned after an alleged tussle with two non-government members who are said to be close to the ruling party.

Officially, Nurul Haque has cited health as the reason for quitting. The government has accepted his resignation and appointed Saidul Islam, the secretary of the minorities department, in his place.

The two non-government members of the commission had allegedly demanded that they be given a list of the WBCS candidates days before the final interview, to which Haque was said to be opposed. Haque had another year to go as WBPSC chairman.

The issue of Haque's resignation was raised in the Assembly by the leader of the Opposition, Surjya Kanta Mishra of the CPM, and the lone BJP MLA, Samik Bhattacharya, today.

"We have heard from sources that the PSC chairman has resigned. He is a clean and efficient officer. If this is true, then it will be very unfortunate," Bhattacharya said.

While speaking on the governor's address, Mishra demanded a statement from the chief minister.

In her reply Mamata Banerjee said: "He (Haque) has resigned. It is his personal decision. We cannot intervene since the commission is an autonomous body. From now on, appointment to the post would be according to rules."

The appointment of Saidul, a nominated IAS officer, has raised several eyebrows at Nabanna as this is the first time such an officer is heading the WBPSC.

"Although officially, Haque's health condition is being cited as the reason behind his resignation, he informed the chief secretary that he could not work with the non-government members. Haque then submitted his resignation to the governor on February 17," a senior Nabanna official said.

The problem between the chairman and the two non-government members started before the final interview of the WBCS aspirants began on February 2.

Senior government officials said the two members - Debopriyo Mullick, the elder bother of minister Jyotipriya Mullick, and Dipankar Dasgupta, a retired PSU official said to be close to education minister Partha Chatterjee - had put pressure on the chairman for the details of the aspirants ahead of the interview.

"Haque was forced to approve a move to give out details of the WBCS candidates seven days before the interview. He was upset as he knew it was illegal because the details of candidates are handed over to those on the interview board just when he or she enters the room," an official said.

The names of the interviewees were not shared after the plan was reported in the media and sparked a controversy. The Opposition parties sought the governor's intervention, citing "gross violation of rules".

A Nabanna official said the alleged tiff took its toll on Haque, a retired 1982-batch IAS officer.

"He somehow completed the interview process on February 13 and went on leave from February 17. Before going, he sent his resignation to the governor. Before quitting, he had a long discussion with the chief secretary," another government official said.

Neither Haque nor Dasgupta and Mallick took calls from this newspaper.

Senior officials at Nabanna said "Haque has proved he had a spine and he would not bow to any kind of political pressure".

"It is clear that the government is not ready to give the WBPSC a free run despite it being a constitutional body," an official said.

"There is a provision to insert two non-government members in the WBPSC board. The Left Front government had always appointed retired government officials to the board. The Trinamul government, however, deployed two non-government members," he added.