On Badal''s move, Dev says UT only follows MHA norms

Rajinder Nagarkoti

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 30

UT Adviser Vijay Kumar Dev today said Chandigarh was a Union Territory and the UT Administration only followed the directions and guidelines of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

The Adviser was speaking in response to the move of the Punjab Government to approach the court against the UT on the issue of violation of a pact regarding the appointment of Punjab employees against 60 per cent posts in offices of the UT.

Last week, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had directed his officials to consult legal experts to file a petition either in the Punjab and Haryana High Court or the Supreme Court to get directions issued to the UT to post 60 per cent employees from Punjab on posts in UT offices.

On the occasion of the launch of the e-payment facility for water and electricity bills, the Adviser, without naming Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and the Punjab Government, said they only followed the MHA guidelines and directions regarding the transfer of employees and teachers.

Recently, Education Minister Daljit Singh Cheema had written to the UT authorities opposing the repatriation of certain teachers, who were on deputation from Punjab. Earlier, senior Akali leader Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa had raised the issue regarding filling of 60 per cent posts several times.

There is a feeling among political and official circles that constant efforts have been made to dilute Punjab’s control over its capital by inducting more and more UT-cadre officials against crucial posts. Already, a good number of police and civil officials of the UT cadre are manning important posts in the UT.