UT set to face shortage of officers

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 27

The crisis over a shortage of state civil service officers from Punjab and Haryana on deputation with the Chandigarh Administration is set to deepen with the Haryana Government asking for the immediate repatriation of its two HCS officers, Kamlesh Kumar, DPI (Schools), and Mandeep Kaur, Director (Social Welfare).

Consequently, the work being handled by the two officers is being distributed among the existing UT-cadre officers, who are already handling multiple departments.

Unconfirmed reports said the charge of DPI (Schools) could also be given on a temporary basis to another HCS officer, SK Setia, who has also sought repatriation to his parent state and may not be given any further extension in the UT.

While Kamlesh Kumar was involved in the alleged case of passing casteist remarks against members of the Dalit Raksha Dal, Mandeep Kaur had complained against a UT-cadre officer for allegedly showing disrespect to her.

Sources in Punjab and Haryana said following the decision taken by the UT Adviser to give more teeth to the UT-cadre officers in the distribution of portfolios and clipping of wings of Secretary-rank Punjab and Haryana-cadre IAS officers, besides those of state civil services officers, not many new officers were ready to join the UT on deputation.

“In that eventuality, either the UT would have to ask for more UT-cadre officers or divide the work among the existing UT-cadre officers. It will be a major shift in the practice of posting officers from the states in the UT in the 60:40 ratio. State-cadre officers have already aired their views on the issue,” said a senior official.

Barring two HCS officers, Sunita Malik and SK Jain, and one PCS officer, Amandeep Kaur, the UT, in a policy decision relating to the stay of HCS and PCS officers on deputation with the Chandigarh Administration, has decided to repatriate all state civil officers from Punjab and Haryana who have been on deputation with the Chandigarh Administration for periods ranging from four years to six years.

Four PCS officers, TPS Phoolka, Director (Transport), Sunil Bhatia and Rajiv Gupta, both Additional Commissioners in the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation,and Rahul Gupta, Controller (Printing and Stationery), and one HCS officer, Tilak Raj, Land Acquisition Officer, are to repatriated by June 9, 2015.

UT-cadre officers

In the new set-up, the Administration is keen on officers who are more responsive. Already, SB Deepak Kumar, Sepcial Secretary (Home), is holding the charge of DC, Secretary (IT) and House Allotment, and CEO (CHB). Prince Dhawan, a 2012-batch officer, has been given the additional charge of Assistant Estate Officer (Headquarters), Director (IT) in addition to being the SDM (Central) and other charges of Rural Development, Animal Husbandry, Red Cross and State Agriculture Marketing Board. There is a likelihood of posting UT-cadre officers as the ADC and on other public-dealing posts.