Barely a month after PCS officer Amit Talwar issued notices to prominent persons for unauthorised construction outside the Lal Dora, the UT administration divested him of the charge of Land Acquisition Officer (LAO) on Tuesday. The term ‘lal dora’ refers to that part of the traditional village land that can be used for non-agricultural purpose only, or for support systems like livestock.
In a major reshuffle, the administration also took away the charge of Housing secretary from Chandigarh Housing Board chairman Maninder Singh.
Maninder has been involved in a series of controversies with IAS officer SB Deepak Kumar who was only a few days ago stripped of the charge of the board’s CEO.
Sources said that the change was mandated as an officer holding the charge of CHB chairman and housing secretary, simultaneously, was perceived as a conflict of interest.
Finance secretary Sarvjit Singh has been given the charge while the charge of secretary, Sports has been taken away from him and given to Deepak Kumar.
SDM EAST TAPASYA RAGHAV IS NEW LAO
Talwar was in news for issuing notices to over 150 people, including BJP chief Sanjay Tandon, former UT home secretary Krishan Mohan and assistant estate officer Prince Dhawan’s father for alleged constructions carried out by them in violation of the rules.
The charge has been given to IAS officer Tapasya Raghav, who has been holding the post of SDM East. Talwar retains the charge of additional deputy commissioner and will also be additional secretary, urban planning/metro.
The charge of Registering and Licensing Authority held by Talwar has now been given to PCS officer Karnail Singh. The latter will also head the Government College of Art apart from being director sports and additional director, administration, GMCH 32.
MOST OFFICERS AFFECTED
The new reshuffle affects most officers while five new state civil service officers from Punjab and Haryana also got postings. Home secretary Anurag Aggarwal with 16 posts has most departments; DC Ajit Balaji Joshi has 13 with Sarvjit handling 11 departments.
The three HCS officers have been assigned charges in the MC, while the two PCS officers will be posted in the estate office.
Dr Adapa Karthik, as secretary CHB had taken on Maninder and is going on twoyear ex-India leave to study in the US. Jitender Yadav has been appointed as CHB secretary along with other charges held by Karthik.
Deepak Kumar will also be secretary, technical education and secretariat establishment. Secretariat establishment was with the UT home secretary. CITCO MD Kavita Singh has been given additional charge of secretary, industries, which was earlier with IAS officer K K Jindal.
Director sports has been given to Karnail Singh.
PCS officer Rajiv Kumar Gupta has been removed as joint commissioner and given charge of additional secretary employment, labour, printing and stationery, housing and registrar co-operative societies.
PCS officer Kuljeet Pal Singh Mahi, who has recently joined the administration, has been assigned additional secretary, home, including jails, health, food and supplies, consumer affais and legal metrology. Another new joinee, PCS officer Rakesh Kumar Popli, has been appointed as Director-cum-joint secretary Technical Education, secretary Red Cross society, nodal officer state agriculture marketing, additional excise and taxation commisisoner and DC –cum-collector (excise).
Among the three HCS officers who joined on deputation this month, Manoj Khatri has been appointed as joint commissioner and secretary MC; Shilpy Pattar has been appointed as CHB secretary and Radhika Singh as MC joint commissioner.
