Names of several IAS officers are doing rounds for the post of adviser to administrator of Chandigarh Banwarilal Purohit, who is also serving as governor of Punjab.
The post has been vacant for last two months since Dharam Pal, a 1988 batch officer of Punjab cadre, superannuated from the post of adviser.
Nitin Kumar, a 2000 batch IAS of AGMUT, who is serving as home secretary of Chandigarh, has been given additional charge of adviser to administrator.
The union home ministry is still searching for right IAS officer to helm the position. On December 22, when union home minsiter had visited Chandigarh, administrator Banwarilal Purohit asked him to appoint an experienced adviser.
IAS officers in the race
Rajiv Verma, a 1992 batch of UT cadre, who is currently serving as secretary of Pondicherry, is considered to be the front runner for this post. Apart from that, Dr Sharad Chauhan, a 1994 batch IAS of AGMUT cadre, is also in the reckoning. Currently he is working as principal secretary with Arunachal Pradesh government.
Among other contenders are Sanjiv Kumar, a 1992 batch AGMUT cadre IAS, Manish Kumar Gupta, 1991 batch AGMUT cadre, Amit Yadav, also a 1991 batch AGMUT cadre officer and Dr Puneet Goyal, also an IAS of 1991 batch AGMUT cadre.
Appointment of Lt Governor on lines of Delhi
There have been taken that the union home ministry may appoint a Lt Governor for Chandigarh on the lines of Delhi. There had been discussion in this earlier also but the centre government came on back foot after opposition of former chief minister of Punjab Prakash Singh Badal.
Role of Adviser to Administrator
The Adviser to the Administrator is an officer belonging to the Indian Administrative Services of AGMUT Cadre and is appointed by Ministry of Home Affairs. He advises the Administrator on policy matters and oversees the day-to-day administration of the Union Territory. All financial powers of the Administrator stand delegated to him. Adviser acts as Revisional Authority under the Capital of Punjab (Development & Regulations) Act 1952 and an Appellate Authority under various rules framed under the Act.
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