New Home Secy to join next week

“I too have seen the notification but am yet to receive the final orders to this effect. It may take another three-four days,” Kumar told Newsline. His name was recently cleared by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and forwarded to the Cabinet Committee on Appointments (CCA) through the DoPT.

The key post fell vacant when former UT Home Secretary Ram Niwas relinquished charge when his three-year tenure in Chandigarh came to an end on September 23. Since then,the officiating charge of UT Home Secretary has been with Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) Chairman Satya Gopal.

Fifty-three-year-old Anil Kumar holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineer from IIT-Delhi,a masters degree in economics and a law degree. He has been posted with several key departments in Haryana.

In 2000,when Om Prakash Chautala was Haryana Chief Minister,Kumar was suspended for allegedly embezzling funds meant for road repair work in Rohtak district where he was deputy commissioner. An FIR was lodged against him too. The suspension was later revoked by the Union Ministry of Personnel.

Kumar had told the ministry that he was being victimised for refusing to order a vote recount following the Rohtak parliamentary seat election in 1998 which Chautala’s father,Devi Lal,lost to Bhupinder Singh Hooda by a slender margin.