‘Undesirable’ — Punjab CM objects to posting of Haryana cadre officer as Chandigarh SSP

Kuldeep Chahal, a Punjab cadre officer, was repatriated to his home state by the home ministry, 10 months before his three-year tenure as SSP Chandigarh was to end.

File photo of Bhagwant Mann | ANI

Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann Tuesday objected to giving the charge of senior superintendent of police (SSP), Chandigarh to a Haryana cadre IPS officer.

Kuldeep Chahal, a Punjab cadre officer of the 2009 batch, was repatriated to his home state Monday by the home ministry, 10 months before his three-year tenure as SSP Chandigarh was to end.

Chahal was reportedly repatriated following differences with other IPS officers of the AGMUT cadre posted in Chandigarh, over administrative changes in the police force in the union territory.

Manisha Chaudhary, a Haryana cadre IPS officer of the 2011 batch who is posted as SSP, traffic, Chandigarh, has now been given the additional charge of SSP, Chandigarh.

CM Mann shot a letter to Punjab Governor and Administrator of Chandigarh, Banwari Lal Purohit, terming the move “unwanted and undesirable”.

In his letter, the CM apprised the governor that the post of SSP, Chandigarh has traditionally been occupied by a Punjab cadre IPS officer. The CM also said that if SSP Chahal was to be repatriated, then a panel of suitable IPS officers should have been sought from Punjab in advance.

Seeking the intervention of the governor, the CM said the state government will send a panel of three IPS officers of the Punjab cadre for the post of SSP, Chandigarh.

CM @BhagwantMann writes to Punjab Governor regarding the post of SSP Chandigarh being given to Haryana Cadre IPS officer which was traditionally occupied by Punjab Cadre IPS Officer.

‘This is going to disturb the balance among the States in running the affairs of Chandigarh’ pic.twitter.com/Y5tS9GJt5X

— AAP Punjab (@AAPPunjab) December 13, 2022

Attack on AAP govt

Following the re-organisation of Punjab and Haryana in 1966 and the creation of Chandigarh, which is a common capital of the two states, officers from Punjab and Haryana cadre share key posts. The post of SSP Chandigarh is generally held by an IPS officer from Punjab while the post of the home secretary is held by an IAS officer from Haryana.

Several opposition leaders also attacked the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab over the appointment of an IPS officer from the Haryana cadre in Chandigarh. The move is being seen as an attempt to dilute Punjab’s claim over Chandigarh as its territory.

Senior Congress leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira tweeted, I’m saddened that @BhagwantMann govt is completely surrendering its right over Chandigarh first Bjp took over its employees then Hry being allotted land for new Vidhan Sabha and now Hry cadre officer gets charge as Ssp Ut after transfer of Ys Chahal. Meek surrender before the centre!

In a press statement, Punjab’s Leader of Opposition, Partap Singh Bajwa also lambasted Mann over the move.

“As the Haryana cadre IPS officer has been appointed as the new SSP of Chandigarh for the first time in history, the AAP government in Punjab should firmly oppose the move. I believe that AAP was working hand in glove with the BJP…that’s why the BJP-led Haryana government has sharpened its attacks to claim rights over the union territory,” Bajwa said.