Hussan Lal appointed principal secy to CM

CHANDIGARH: Hussan Lal, a 1995-batch IAS officer, was on Monday appointed the principal secretary to new Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi.

The transfer orders were issued minutes after Channi was administered the oath of office by governor Banwarilal Purohit in Chandigarh.

Rahul Tiwari, a 2000-batch IAS officer, was posted as special principal secretary to the chief minister.

Tiwari has worked with Channi when he was technical education and employment generation minister before being elevated as the chief minister.

Hussan Lal, who was the principal secretary, investment promotion, industries and commerce and information technology, replaces Tejveer Singh, who served as the principal secretary to former chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh.

Tiwari was posted in place of Gurkirat Kirpal Singh, who was the special principal secretary.

Race for new DGP hots up

The Race for the new state director general of police (DGP) has intensifies with the new dispensation replacing officials who have worked closely with former CM Captain Amarinder Singh.

The names of 1988-batch IPS officer Iqbal Preet Singh Sahota and 1986-batch officer S Chattopadhyaya are doing the rounds to replace incumbent Dinkar Gupta, people privy to the development said.

However, discussion is on in the government over how to replace Gupta as according to the recent judgment of the Supreme Court, an interim DGP cannot be appointed.

“The government has two options keeping in view the SC judgment. Either it can continue with present DGP and send a proposal of eligible candidates to the UPSC, or it can send him on leave and give the additional charge to someone till the new DGP is selected through the UPSC,” said a senior government functionary.

Both Chattopadhyaya and Sahota met chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi separately on Monday. Both have more than six months of service remaining making them eligible for the post as per the new guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court.