The uncertainty surrounding Parampal Kaur Sidhu’s transition from an IAS officer to a political candidate has finally been resolved. On Saturday, the Punjab government communicated to the Centre that it has no objections to Ms Sidhu’s resignation from the Indian Administrative Service.
Ms Sidhu, who is contesting the Lok Sabha elections as a BJP nominee from the Bathinda Parliamentary constituency, had previously faced challenges in her bid to enter politics.
This development follows the AAP-led Punjab government’s initial rejection of Sidhu’s request for voluntary retirement and waiver of the mandatory three-month notice period. Sidhu had initially applied for voluntary retirement in April, and although the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) of the Union government had formally relieved her, her VRS request was denied by the state government on grounds of “falsifying” information. This led her to resume her duties briefly.
Sidhu expressed her frustration, stating she was “not a servant of government for life,” which led to her decision to submit a fresh resignation on May 8. Fearing difficulties in obtaining a no-due certificate for government dues, essential for her election nomination, she decided to resign anew. This prompted the Centre to urgently seek the state’s position on her resignation.
The state’s approval came swiftly thereafter, with Sidhu remarking on the challenges she faced: “To avoid any confusion, I had tendered fresh resignation. I have heard that it has been accepted. I was not being given a no-due certificate (for electricity and water charges for availing government accommodation) citing that I have not retired. They were playing games,” she explained.
Sidhu’s cleared resignation now paves the way for her full-fledged involvement in the upcoming electoral campaign, marking a significant shift from her administrative career to a potential tenure in politics.
