In a significant administrative reshuffle, the Government of Punjab on February 26, 2026, transferred two senior Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers with immediate effect. The changes, issued by the Department of Personnel (IAS Branch) under the directives of the Governor of Punjab, signal a strategic realignment across key environmental and agricultural departments.
KEY PORTFOLIOS REASSIGNED IN FOREST AND ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENTS
Smt. Shailender Kaur, IFS (2000 batch), who was serving as Director of Horticulture on deputation with the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, has now been placed at the disposal of the Department of Science, Technology and Environment. She has been appointed as Director of Environment and Climate Change and will also hold the additional charge of Special Secretary in the same department. She replaces Manish Kumar, IFS.
Manish Kumar, IFS (2006 batch), who was serving as Director of Environment and Climate Change and Special Secretary in the Department of Science, Technology and Environment, has been shifted to the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare. He will now take over as Director of Horticulture in place of Shailender Kaur.
The official order further states that the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare will issue formal orders regarding the immediate repatriation of Shailender Kaur from her deputation post. Additionally, the Department of Forest and Wildlife Preservation, the Department of Science, Technology and Environment, and the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare have been instructed to issue the necessary formal notifications concerning the officers’ new assignments.
Earlier this month, the state government had also suspended two senior IAS officers under Rule 3(1) of the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969, including Jaspreet Singh, Managing Director of Punjab INFOTECH, as part of broader administrative actions.
