43 posts of secretaries in UT not sanctioned by MHA

This fact has come to light through a letter written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh by retired Assistant Excise and Taxation Commissioner of UT,Satpal Kansal,who has termed it an utter violation of the two fundamental rights — Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution.

Satya Gopal,an AGMUT cadre IAS officer,who is currently holding the additional charge of Adviser to Administrator,said,“I am not prepared to answer your queries at this point. You can send me your questions in writing,and we shall send the replies in writing only.”

Interestingly,the salaries of the officers,posted at some of the non-sanctioned posts,are being drawn from various other departments,including polytechnic college,government college and department of health. Depending on the pay scales of the officers appointed against the non-sanctioned posts,the salaries are drawn from various other heads. For instance,some officers’ salaries are being drawn against the posts of professors and senior doctors.

“Since the posts are not sanctioned,the salaries cannot be drawn against such posts. Therefore,such alternative arrangements are put in place so that the officers can be paid their monthly salaries,” said a senior officer of UT Administration.

The 43 posts of secretaries not sanctioned by the MHA include Secretary (Education,Health,Police,Personnel,Secretariat Administration,Revenue,Tourism,Labour,Transport,Food and Supply,Culture Affairs,Hospitality,Tech Education,Prisons,House Allotment,Social affairs,Cooperation,Medical Education and Research,Industries,Labour Commissioner,Employment,Local Self-Government,Law and Justice,Planning,Engineer,Urban Development,Information Technologies,Science Technology,Sports,Local Fund Examiner,Animal Husbandry,Chief Administrator (Capitol),MRTS,Public Relations,Chairman Pollution Control Committee,Director IT,DPI (Colleges),DPI (S),Secretary Excise and Taxation,Commissioner,Excise and Taxation,Adl-Excise & Taxation Commissioner,Deputy Excise Taxation Commissioner). There are various other non-existing sanctioned posts in many other departments of Union Territory,Chandigarh.

In fact,there are only four posts of secretaries sanctioned by the MHA,which include home secretary and finance secretary. Recently,the MHA sanctioned two more posts of secretaries in the Chandigarh Administration,but both the posts are yet to be filled.

In the absence of the sanctioned posts,the portfolios are distributed among top two officers of the Chandigarh Administration — Home Secretary and Finance Secretary. Both are looking after around 20-22 departments each.

The issue of postings of officers and distribution of portfolios in Chandigarh Administration has already emerged as a bone of contention between Punjab and Haryana,and the Chief Ministers of both the states have vehemently taken up with MHA the issue of their claim on Chandigarh.

In a recent communication sent to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal,Union Home Minister P Chidambaram has assured him that the UT Administration has been instructed to strictly follow the 60:40 ratio as far as appointment of officers and distribution of departments among officers is concerned.

However,the MHA in its letter (No. 14039/2010-UTS.I(PS),dated July 23,2010,had clearly mentioned that there was no provision of 60:40 ratio in the Re-organization Act,1966 for taking officers on deputation from the states of Punjab and Haryana.

On deputation, involved in scams

The officers on deputation to Chandigarh Administration have been involved in a number of scams in the past. Be it the recruitment of conductors,teachers,police officers,allotment of mega projects,allotment of liquor licences,purchase of equipment in department of health,department of sports,there are numerous examples wherein the deputationists have been involved in one or the other scam.