Dhaliwal gets officiating charge of Amritsar DC

Ruchika M Khanna

Advertisement

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 4

The Punjab Government today posted Tarn Taran Deputy Commissioner Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal as the officiating Amritsar DC to oversee the SGPC House meeting tomorrow.

Official sources told The Tribune that the government had proposed the name of another Sikh officer, Arshdeep Singh Thind, presently posted as the Sangrur DC, for the Amritsar post. It is learnt that objections were raised by the Election Commission to post Thind in Amritsar amid reports that one of his close relatives could contest the Assembly elections as an Independent or on the ticket of a major political party.

Chief Electoral Officer VK Singh said the list of officers to be transferred, as proposed by the state government, had not been okayed till late in the evening.

Sources said the government proposed to transfer the deputy commissioners in Amritsar (where a Sikh officer has to be posted for the SGPC House meeting), Tarn Taran, Kapurthala and Bathinda, besides four other IAS officers posted in Chandigarh/ Mohali.

Sources confirmed that Amritsar DC Varun Roojam “was taken ill and has proceeded on leave”.

The transfer of the officers is mandatory as the last phase of revision of electoral rolls is in progress. During this period, no officer associated with election work can get a home posting or remain posted in a district where a bypoll was conducted during his tenure. Even a routine posting during this period requires the EC’s approval.