Chandigarh: The Chandigarh Administration is continuing to wait for the Union Home Ministry’s approval to fill a key position through the appointment of an IAS officer from the Punjab cadre. Despite forwarding a panel of officers more than a month ago, the administration has not yet received any communication regarding the final selection.
The delay has prolonged uncertainty over a crucial administrative posting in the Union Territory, where staffing issues have already emerged due to pending deputation approvals and vacancies involving officers from both Punjab and Haryana.
Three Officers Emerge as Main Contenders
According to sources familiar with the process, the contest has effectively narrowed to three officers from the Punjab cadre.
The officers under consideration are:
- Harpreet Sudan (2013 batch)
- Amit Talwar (2013 batch)
- Jaspreet Singh (2014 batch)
All three officers have held significant administrative responsibilities in Punjab and have served as deputy commissioners in different districts, giving them substantial field administration experience.
Amit Talwar Brings Prior Chandigarh Experience
Among the contenders, 2013 batch IAS officer Amit Talwar is considered unique due to his previous association with the Chandigarh Administration.
Before his induction into the IAS cadre, Talwar had served in the Union Territory administration as a Punjab Civil Services (PCS) officer. His familiarity with Chandigarh’s governance structure and administrative processes is seen as an important advantage.
Officials believe such prior experience could help ensure continuity and reduce the learning curve associated with taking charge of a senior administrative assignment in the UT.
Why the Decision Is Taking Time
The appointment involves an inter-cadre deputation process, which requires approvals at multiple levels before a final posting order can be issued.
Such proposals move through several administrative channels and ultimately require clearance from the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), headed by the Prime Minister. Until all approvals are completed, the Home Ministry cannot formally communicate its decision to the Chandigarh Administration.
As a result, despite the panel having been under consideration for several weeks, no official appointment order has been issued so far.
Haryana Officer Deployment Also Stalled
The Chandigarh Administration’s staffing concerns are not limited to Punjab cadre officers.
The administration is also facing delays in securing officers from Haryana. Earlier, a panel of Haryana Civil Services (HCS) officers was forwarded for consideration. However, the proposed panel was reportedly rejected by the Chandigarh Administration due to technical reasons.
Following the rejection, the UT administration requested the Haryana government to send a fresh panel of officers. Several months later, a revised list has yet to be received.
Administrative Challenges Continue
The twin delays involving both Punjab cadre IAS officers and Haryana Civil Services officers have created challenges for the Chandigarh Administration in filling important positions.
Officials are now awaiting decisions from both the Union Home Ministry and the Haryana government to address the manpower gap and ensure smooth functioning of administrative departments in the Union Territory.
With the selection process pending for over a month, attention remains focused on when the Home Ministry will finalise its choice among the shortlisted Punjab cadre officers and issue the necessary approval.
