Former Chief Secy Chhina dies at 98

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 18

Former Punjab Chief Secretary Hardev Singh Chhina (98) died on Sunday.

He is survived by son Paramdev Singh Chhina, former Additional Advocate General of Punjab, and daughters Guninder Kaur, Parveen Kaur, Jatinder Kaur and Neenu Manshahia.

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh condoled the demise of Chhina, who was married to Naresh Inder Kumari, daughter of Raja Birinder Singh of Patiala. The latter was a step-brother of Maharaja Bhupinder Singh, grandfather of Capt Amarinder.

The Chief Minister described Chhina as an able administrator, a distinguished civil servant and a gentleman bureaucrat.

The 1950-batch IAS officer was an alumnus of Aitchison College, Lahore. He served as the Commissioner of the Punjab Hill Area; Secretary, Vigilance; Chairman, Punjab Financial Corporation; Financial Commissioner, Revenue; and Finance Secretary. Chhina was elevated as the Chief Secretary in 1974.

The cremation will take place here on Monday.