Chandigarh: Former Indian Administrative Service officer Capt. Preetdev Singh Shergill, a 2006-batch Punjab-cadre IAS officer and former Indian Army Captain, passed away on September 23, 2026, after a battle with cancer. He was 70.
Shergill, who was born on August 30, 1956, spent his professional life in two distinct phases of public service — first as a commissioned officer in the Indian Army and later as a civil servant in Punjab. Those who knew him remembered him for carrying the discipline, courage and sense of service associated with his military background into his subsequent career in administration.
His mortal remains were consigned to flames in Chandigarh on September 24.
Former IAS officer KBS Sidhu has expressed his sincerest and heartfelt condolences to Shergill’s family and friends, remembering his life of service and the courage with which he faced his final battle with cancer.
From the Indian Army to Civil Services
Capt. Preetdev Singh Shergill began his professional career in the Indian Army, serving as a commissioned officer and attaining the rank of Captain.
His military career formed an important part of his identity. According to accounts from his peers and friends, Shergill continued to embody the discipline and courage associated with a soldier even after moving into civil administration.
His transition from the armed forces to the civil services marked the beginning of another chapter of public service. After serving in the Punjab civil services, he was inducted into the Indian Administrative Service as part of the 2006 batch of the Punjab cadre.
The transition gave Shergill an opportunity to continue serving the public, this time through state administration and governance.
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Administrative Career in Punjab
As a Punjab-cadre IAS officer, Shergill handled responsibilities in the state government and was associated with important assignments in the areas of civil supplies, food distribution and consumer affairs.
Among his notable assignments was his tenure as Managing Director of the Punjab State Civil Supplies Corporation Limited, popularly known as PUNSUP. As MD, he headed the state-owned organisation responsible for functions related to civil supplies.
He also served as Mission Director for the Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs Department of the Government of Punjab.
Shergill served as Mission Director from March 20, 2015, until his retirement on August 31, 2016.
His administrative career therefore covered areas closely connected with food and public distribution, consumer affairs and the state’s civil supplies system.
A Career Spanning Two Forms of Public Service
Shergill’s professional journey was distinctive because it bridged military and civil administration.
He first served the country in uniform as an Indian Army Captain and subsequently entered the civil services, where he took on administrative responsibilities in the Punjab government.
His career reflected a continued association with public service even after making the transition from the armed forces to the IAS.
The combination of his military background and subsequent administrative career also shaped the way colleagues and friends remembered him — as someone who retained the values of discipline, courage and commitment throughout his professional life.
Battle With Cancer
Shergill passed away on September 23, 2026, after battling cancer.
He reportedly faced the illness with the same courage and determination that had characterised his life as a soldier and civil servant. He fought the disease until the very end, but ultimately succumbed to the illness.
He was 70. His death marks the loss of a former civil servant whose career extended from the Indian Army to the Punjab administration and whose years in public service spanned two different institutions.
KBS Sidhu Pays Heartfelt Condolences
Former IAS officer KBS Sidhu expressed his condolences following Shergill’s demise.
In his condolence message, Sidhu said he offered his sincerest and heartfelt condolences to Shergill’s family and friends.
He also remembered Shergill’s life of service, describing him as a true soldier who had served first in uniform and later in the service of the people.
Sidhu prayed for Shergill’s soul and for strength for the bereaved family, saying, “May Waheguru grant his soul eternal peace and give the family the strength to bear this loss.”
The tribute underlined the two distinct but connected phases of Shergill’s life — his service in the armed forces and his subsequent contribution through the civil services.
Last Rites Held in Chandigarh
Following his demise on September 23, Shergill’s mortal remains were brought for the last rites in Chandigarh.
His mortal remains were consigned to flames on September 24, 2026, a day after his death.
Capt. Preetdev Singh Shergill leaves behind the memory of a career that moved from the battlefield and military service to the corridors of civil administration. Born on August 30, 1956, and passing away on September 23, 2026, he spent decades associated with public service, first as an Army officer and later as a Punjab-cadre IAS officer.
