CHANDIGARH Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday objected to giving the cost of Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Chandigarh, to a Haryana cadre IPS officer after the repatriation of Kuldeep Chahal to the state.

Mann wrote a letter to Punjab governor Banwari Lal Purohit, who can also be the UT administrator, expressing shock on the growth.

“Respected Governor Sahib, as you are aware, the post of Senior Superintendent of Police, Union Territory, Chandigarh has traditionally been occupied by a Punjab Cadre IPS Officer and that of Deputy Commissioner, Chandigarh by a Haryana Cadre IAS Officer. However, I am surprised to learn that Kuldeep Singh Chahal has been repatriated to Punjab prematurely and charge of this post has been given to a Haryana Cadre IPS Officer,” Mann wrote in the letter.

The chief minister said this is going to disturb the balance among the state in running the affairs of UT, Chandigarh.

“If for some reason Chahal was to be repatriated, a panel of suitable IPS officers should have been sought from Punjab well in advance,” Mann said.

The chief minister said shortly the state government will be sending a panel of three IPS officers of Punjab cadre for the post of SSP, Chandigarh.

“I hope that the Governor will get an IPS officer of Punjab cadre appointed as SSP, Chandigarh, at the earliest,” Mann added.

In an unprecedented transfer, the Chandigarh administration has repatriated SSP Chahal to Punjab, his mum or dad cadre, whilst he had 10 extra months left of his three-year tenure.

Late within the night on Monday, UT notified his repatriation, stating he had been relieved on Monday afternoon, and his cost has been given to SSP (visitors), Manisha Chaudhary.

The order of repatriation has been issued by UT administrator Banwarilal Purohit, who can also be the governor of Punjab.

Conventionally, the put up of SSP is held by a Punjab cadre officer.

For deputation posts from Punjab and Haryana, the names are sought by the administration from the respective states and after consideration, forwarded to the ministry of residence affairs, which lastly points notification of appointment. It isn’t instantly clear whether or not the Center was consulted on the transfer.

According to Punjab residence division officers, just a few days in the past, unofficial info was sought, requesting the repatriation of the IPS into the Punjab cadre nevertheless it was not allowed because the UT administration failed to present the explanations behind their request.

“We have not been informed officially on the issue before by the UT administration. It’s unprecedented for us as well. Generally, we are asked to send a panel of three officers to MHA from the Punjab cadre to appoint one as SSP,” stated the official.

Chahal, who joined the police drive as an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) within the Chandigarh police and later turned an IPS officer in 2009, was posted as Chandigarh SSP on September 29, 2020, on inter-cadre deputation. His appointment was notified by the Center for 3 years.