Ensure status quo in in UT admin posts, Capt tells PM

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, November 9

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to ensure that status quo in Punjab and Haryana share in Chandigarh UT’s administrative posts is maintained.

Seeking his personal intervention, the chief minister has asked Modi to advise the Ministry of Home Affairs, GoI, for early steps to maintain the ratio of 60:40 between Punjab and Haryana in filling up civil posts in the UT, as achieved over a period of time.

In his letter, Captain Amarinder Singh mentioned that it was heartening to note that the Government of India (GoI) had agreed to keep in abeyance its notification of September 25, 2018, merging the posts of DSPs of Chandigarh Police with Delhi, Andaman, Nicobar Islands Police Service (DANIPS), in response to his letter of October 1 this year.

The chief minister further pointed out that, currently, of the 14 IAS Officers posted in Chandigarh Administration, only three belonged to Punjab and two belonged to Haryana, with the remaining officers were from UT cadre. Similarly, of the 7 IPS Officers posted in Chandigarh, only one each belonged to Punjab and Haryana, whereas the remaining five were from UT cadre. Apparently, the ratio of 60:40 was also not being maintained in placing the officers in Chandigarh Administration, he said, adding that the situation was similar with respect to other categories of employees, such as teachers, doctors and other civil officers posted in Chandigarh Administration.

Given the fact that the Government of India had appreciated the need to maintain the ratio of 60:40 between Punjab and Haryana in filling up the posts in Chandigarh Administration, the imbalance created during the last few years needed to be rectified as well, said the Chief Minister.

Capt Amarinder Singh also asked Modi to advise the Chandigarh Administration not to curtail the role and responsibilities of the officers of Punjab and Haryana, as assigned to them in pre-determined ratio.