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In a recent development highlighting the administrative challenges in Punjab, a 2015-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Karnail Singh on Wednesday tendered his resignation. The decision came after Singh, who was removed from his position as Kapurthala Deputy Commissioner on January 30, was not assigned any new posting since then.
Singh’s resignation, submitted to Chief Secretary Anurag Verma, is awaiting approval from Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, followed by clearance from the Centre’s Department of Personnel and Training. Currently, the Chief Minister is in Delhi for a meeting and was expected to return by the weekend.
It is learnt that Singh’s morale had been significantly affected by the lack of an assigned role, leading to his decision to resign.
This marks the second instance of an IAS officer resigning in Punjab in recent times. A week ago, Parampal Kaur Sidhu, also an IAS officer, resigned from her position amid speculations of being nominated as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate for the Bathinda Lok Sabha constituency. However, Sidhu’s resignation is pending acceptance as well. She was serving in the post of Punjab State Industrial Development Corporation’s managing director.
Speculations are rife that she might throw her hat into the political ring and contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Notably, Sidhu is the daughter-in-law of Punjab’s former Minister and senior SAD leader Sikandar Singh Maluka.
Promoted to the IAS cadre from the PCS in 2015, Sidhu had served in various crucial positions across Punjab. She was set to retire in October this year and has already been on leave. Despite her extensive experience and qualifications, neither the Congress-led Government nor the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) administration has appointed her on any notable post, or as Deputy Commissioner.
The situation reflected a broader trend of IAS officers grappling with prolonged periods of uncertainty regarding their postings in Punjab. Notable instances include IAS officers DK Tiwari (1994 batch), Nilkanth Avhad (1999 batch), Ajit Balaji Joshi (2003 batch), Neelima (2008 batch), and Gurpreet Singh Khaira (2009 batch), who have all experienced delays in obtaining their assignments.
Amidst the backdrop of administrative challenges and a dearth of IAS officers, Punjab has communicated its need for additional officers to the Centre. However, the issue persists, underscoring the urgency for reforms in bureaucratic processes to ensure effective governance in the state.
Notably, Singh had previously served as a staff officer to former Chief Secretary VK Janjua. Singh is slated to retire on September 30.
Moreover, his decision to resign aligns with the ongoing scarcity of IAS officers in Punjab — a matter regarding which the State Government had previously approached the Centre seeking additional personnel.
