Empty posts,overburdened officials

Its a wonder that the Chandigarh Administration is functioning. With nearly eight important posts lying vacant for months now,officers are juggling additional charges as best as they can in the absence of regular incumbents.

Its a wonder that the Chandigarh Administration is functioning. With nearly eight important posts lying vacant for months now,officers are juggling additional charges as best as they can in the absence of regular incumbents.

On top of the list is the post of UT Chief Engineer. Ever since V K Bhardwaj retired a year ago,the Administration is functioning without a replacement. The additional charge was first given to S K Jaitley,who spent his last few months of service as the Acting Chief Engineer till he retired too.

The post then went to Kishanjeet Singh,who as UT Chief Engineer raked up several controversies.

Eventually,Kishanjeet too retired from service a few months ago. Ever since,the post has been lying vacant. Surinderpal,superintending engineer of the Electricity department, is holding the fort at present.

Similar is the fate of the posts of Director (Tourism) and Director (Public Relations). Director Public Instructions (Schools) Samwartak Singh has taken up the additional charge of the former while Director (Information Technology) Manjit Brar is working as Director (Public Relations).

Chief Engineer (Housing Board),Assistant Commissioner (Municipal Corporation),Chief General Manager (CITCO) and Special Secretary (Finance) are a few other posts for which appointment has been pending for months now.

The Administration blames it all on the Lok Sabha elections,which culminated over two weeks ago. We were in the process of filling up the vacant posts when the Model Code of Conduct came into effect. Now,as the elections are over,we have initiated the process again and shall soon be filling up these posts, said a senior UT Administration official.

Story continues below this ad

While the Administration has recently got two Punjab Civil Services officers Sunil Bhatia and Jaswinder Kaur on deputation,who are expected to be given some of the vacant posts,the post of Chairman,Chandigarh Housing Board,is also going to fall vacant by next month,as Punjab Cadre IAS officer Mohanjit Singhs three-year tenure will end in July.

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram

Empty posts,overburdened officials

Its a wonder that the Chandigarh Administration is functioning. With nearly eight important posts lying vacant for months now,officers are juggling additional charges as best as they can in the absence of regular incumbents.

Its a wonder that the Chandigarh Administration is functioning. With nearly eight important posts lying vacant for months now,officers are juggling additional charges as best as they can in the absence of regular incumbents.