EXISTING ARRANGEMENT TO CONTINUE AS BEFORE WITHOUT SHUFFLING OF DEPARTMENTS
CHANDIGARH JUNE 11:The Union Government has agreed to ensure the maintenance of the ratio of 60:40 in the posts to be filled up in the Union Territory of Chandigarh from amongst IAS, IPS and other state cadre officers of Punjab and Haryana.
An assurance to this effect has been given by the Union Minister for Home Affairs, Mr. P. Chidambaram in a communication to the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr. Parkash Singh Badal. The assurance comes in the wake of persistent objections raised by Mr. Badal in several communications to the Prime Minister.
In an official letter to the Punjab Chief Minister reiterating the “commitment of the Union Government to the existing arrangements of the 60:40 formula, Mr. Chidambaram has said that his ministry is “particularly concerned about the sensitivity of States of Punjab and Haryana with regard to Chandigarh and, therefore, no steps will would be taken “that generate any misgivings” over the 60:40 share of the two states and their role in the Chandigarh Administration”.
Mr. Chidambaram has further informed the Chief Minister that the Union Home Secretary has spoken to the Administrator, Chandigarh Administration in this regard and has asked him to ensure that the 60:40 arrangement between Punjab and Haryana be respected and that not only the postings but even the Departments between the officers from Punjab and Haryana should continue on the above ratio. “There should be no shuffling of Departments” in violation of this, the Union Home Secretary has asked the UT Administrator.
The Punjab government has been expressing “immense concern” over the issue of postings of Haryana government officers to the UT in violation of the existing formula. Mr. Badal had raised the issue with the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister several times. Mr. Chidambaram’s letter is expected to rest at rest the controversy over the issue.
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