Journalism of Courage
Municipal Commissioner,Assistant Estate Officer,Senior Superintendent of Police (Traffic) among those not filled
The Chandigarh Administration has failed to curb an unprecedented crisis to fill up key posts,with the state governments of Punjab and Haryana paying no heed to the Administrations repeated reminders regarding the panels of officers who are to be posted against certain vital posts,lying vacant for months in Chandigarh.
It has been over two months now,since the post of Municipal Commissioner,UT is lying vacant.
This is because the Punjab government has not sent the panel of officers,out of whom Chandigarh Administration is supposed to be selecting one officer fit to be posted as the Municipal Commissioner. Similarly,the post of Assistant Estate Officer,which is also to be filled up by a Punjab cadre state civil services (PCS) officer is also lying vacant and is presently being held by another officer as an additional charge.
It has been over 20 days since the post of UT Senior Superintendent of Police (Traffic) has become vacant.
Despite the Chandigarh Administration getting the panel of three Haryana cadre IPS officers,the final decision has not yet been taken.
The post of Home Secretary,UT is going to fall vacant on September 24 and despite a panel of senior Haryana cadre officers available with the Chandigarh Administration,no final call has been taken as yet.
The post of Chief Executive Officer (Chandigarh Housing Board) is also vacant as Ritu Chaudhary,a Haryana Civil Services (HCS) officer is presently on leave.
Two posts of Joint Commissioner in Municipal Corporation are also lying vacant,both being held by other officers as additional charges.
When asked,a senior UT Administration official,said,It certainly is a crisis situation. It is very strange that officers are not willing to come to Chandigarh on deputation. We are sending reminders to both Haryana and Punjab,asking them to send panels of officers for the vacant posts. We hope to receive a response soon.
