Chandigarh (14.12.2022): When Chandigarh administrator and Punjab Governor Banwari Lal Purohit appointed Haryana Cadre IPS officer Manisha Chaudhary (2011 batch) as SSP of Chandigarh replacing Punjab Cadre IPS officer Kuldeep Singh Chahal (2009 batch) objections raised on the issue appeared natural. And so happened when Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Man shot a letter at Purohit objecting to the appointment of a Haryana cadre officer as SSP, Chandigarh. In fact, Chahal was abruptly and prematurely repatriated to his home cadre (Punjab) nearly a year before his three-year deputation was supposed to end.
Had Chahal been replaced with another Punjab Cadre officer, it could have been a reshuffle of regular nature. But it wasn’t.
Chandigarh has been an aspirational city for both Punjab and Haryana so much so that none of them agreed to forgo its claim over the city which was ultimately made common capital and a Union Territory administered by Union Home Ministry. Amicable administrative arrangements were crafted to suit the neighboring states. Home Secretary and Deputy Commissioner posts were earmarked for Haryana Cadre officers while Finance Secretary and SSP posts were earmarked for the Punjab Cadre officers.
It was taken as a provocation when Punjab Cadre IPS officer Chahal was replaced by Ms Chaudhary, a Haryana Cadre officer. The decades-old arrangement was shattered.
The Punjab CM swung into action. However, people in the knowhow say that it might be a politically correct move at the behest of the Centre but AAP is not a political party that let things go easily. The AAP-ruled Punjab Govt not only lodged its protest with the Governor but wrote that the state government would be sending a panel of three IPS officers to choose from the SSP of Chandigarh UT. Will the Governor oblige the Punjab government?
Both the political parties – the BJP and AAP -- are known for their aggression, so it is time to watch out for the activities playing out in Chandigarh.
(By Rakesh Ranjan)
