Punjab, Haryana to oppose MHA move on Central cadre officers

Punjab and Haryana are going to oppose the Central move on appointing more officers of the DANICS cadre in the UT Administration to the posts occupied by the PCS and HCS officers, saying it would disturb the present administrative set-up.

Recently, a communication was sent to the UT Administration by the Ministry of Home Affairs seeking its view on appointing more Central cadre officers -- Delhi Andaman Nicobar Island Civil Services (DANICS) -- in Chandigarh, particularly to those posts which are currently being held by the PCS and HCS officers.

According to sources, both the Punjab cadre and the Haryana cadre officers have already conveyed their displeasure at the move to the respective chief secretaries of the two states.

"The Union Territory of Chandigarh has a unique status of being the capital of two states, Haryana and Punjab. The structure of UT Administration is very clear, with 60:40 ratio of officers from Haryana and Punjab. There are no two ways about the ratio of officers in UT Administration. Any attempt to change this structural arrangement will definitely be taken up with the competent authorities in the Central government," Haryana Chief Secretary P K Chaudhery told Chandigarh Newsline.

Punjab Chief Secretary Rakesh Singh, too, said the "Punjab government's stand has been consistent and is very clear that the 60:40 ratio in the UT Administration is respected and followed". "Any move to dilute the accord of 1966 will be opposed by the Punjab government," he added.

In the past, both the Haryana and Punjab governments had taken exception to the announcement of two new secretary-level posts in the UT Administration by MHA. Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had shot off letters to MHA. As a result, the secretaries have not yet been appointed. Following the Punjab CM's letter to MHA, the then Union Home Minister P Chidambaram had even sent a reply to him saying the ratio of 60:40 would be respected and ensured in the UT Administration.

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