Punjab, Haryana quarrel over Chandigarh again

CHANDIGARH: The Centre’s decision to review the status of posts of senior administrative officers in Chandigarh with a view to appointing UT cadre officers at senior positions has stirred a hornet’s nest.

Both, Punjab and Haryana, have taken an exception to the move as it would tantamount to diluting the status of officers from both states manning senior posts. Ever since Chandigarh acquired the status of a union territory, the proportion of senior officers from Punjab and Haryana has been 60 and 40 per cent proportionately.

The fresh controversy erupted this week when the Centre called for a meeting of the Appointments Committee of the Union Cabinet, a committee of secretaries under the chairmanship of Union Home secretary VK Duggal, in New Delhi. The committee is to examine whether the posts manned by IAS and IPS officers in the Chandigarh administration should continue to be filled by those on deputation from Punjab and Haryana, or would it be better to appoint UT cadre offices to the posts.

In a strongly-worded letter to PM Manmohan Singh, Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal said there seemed to be a move to grant permanent status of UT to Chandigarh.