Chandigarh, July 14
Mr Jai Singh Gill, an IAS officer of the1968 batch, is to be the next Chief Secretary of Punjab. He is currently on deputation to the Central Government, as Secretary, Steel.

Sources say Mr Gill agreed to return to Punjab at a dinner meeting with Chief Minister Amarinder Singh in New Delhi on Saturday.

Mr Gill will succeed Mr Rajan Kashyap, who retires on July 31.

This is the third tenure of Mr Gill at the Centre, the first being from April, 1983 to May, 1985 and again from 1990-95. For a brief period he was Principal Secretary to Mr S.S. Barnala, who was the Chief Minister. Among the key posts he has held at the Centre was as the Managing Director, Food Corporation of India. He is on deputation to the Centre since 1999.