Punjab Administration Faces Vacuum as Key Roles Remain Unfilled
New Delhi, 27 December 2023: The Punjab administration is grappling with a leadership gap as another senior position, Secretary of the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare, stands vacant following the repatriation of V.K. Singh. This adds to the already existing void in the crucial Special Chief Secretary post, open since July 2023.
While V.K. Singh, an IAS officer of the 1990 batch, is expected to take on the Special Chief Secretary role, concerns arise about the underutilization of other experienced officers. Despite the shortage of administrative hands, capable officers like D.K. Tiwari and Neelkanth Avadh remain sidelined, while some like K.A.P. Sinha and Tejveer Singh are overburdened with multiple departments.
The situation stems from the appointment of Anurag Verma as Chief Secretary in June 2023, superseding ten senior officers, including V.K. Singh. Notably, four of these bypassed officers are currently on central deputation, raising further questions about succession planning within the state.
With seniors like Vini Mahajan, Anjali Bhawra, and Seema Jain nearing retirement, and Anurag Agarwal recently opting for central deputation, the leadership vacuum in Punjab’s administration seems likely to persist. Anirudh Tewari, Sarvjit Singh, and Raji P. Shrivastava are among the few senior officers currently holding key positions within the state.
Key Takeaways:
- Punjab’s administration faces a shortage of experienced officers in leadership roles.
- Important positions like Secretary of the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare and Special Chief Secretary remain vacant.
- Concerns exist about underutilization of experienced officers while others are overburdened.
- Bypassing of senior officers during Chief Secretary appointment raises questions about succession planning.
This revised version aims to be concise, informative, and highlight the key issues facing the Punjab administration due to the unfilled positions and underutilization of experienced officers. It also raises questions about succession planning within the state.