Chandigarh, July 21, 2020: The controversial tenure of Suresh Kumar IAS (retd), Chief Principal Secretary to Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has taken another turn after reports emerged that he has quit.
On Monday, he is said to have tendered his resignation and sent his staff home from his office in Punjab Bhavan. Today, he returned his official vehicles. Suresh Kumar has a personal assistant, a personal secretary, senior assistant, IT assistant, computer operator and four peons. He has a driver also who was sent back to the CMO, to be sent back to the General Administration Department for posting.
However, there is no official word about his resignation as yet.
Kumar hasn’t gone to his office in the Secretariat since September 2019 as he has been either working from home or from Punjab Bhavan.
Reports at that time appeared in a section of media saying he had resigned, which was denied by the government.
Suresh Kumar was appointed Chief Principal Secretary on March 17, 2017 right after the government was sworn in.
He was appointed in the rank of Cabinet Secretary of Government of India (GoI).
A post graduate in commerce from Delhi University, Suresh Kumar is 1983 batch IAS officer who started his career as Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) in Talwandi Sabo and retired as Additional Chief Secretary (Development) in April 2016.
He served the Punjab government and remained on Central deputation in different capacities and dealt with key governance and regulatory issues in matters concerning Power, Water Resources, Agriculture, Cooperation, Education, Industries, Tax and Economic administration, Environment, Water Supply and Sanitation, Urban Local Government, and governance reforms.
His appointment was challenged in the Punjab and Haryana High Court in August, 2017.
The petitioner Ramandeep Singh challenged the appointment on the grounds that duties given to him were otherwise to be exercised and performed by the Principal Secretary to the CM who is an IAS officer of Punjab Cadre.
The order of his appointment was illegal and violated the provisions of the All India Services Act 1951 as well as the statutory rules, maintained the petitioner.
Following this, Suresh Kumar refused to attend office. He reportedly took the stand to not attend office till disposal of the petition filed.
In January, 2018 Punjab and Harayana High Court set aside his appointment. The court of Justice Rajan Gupta said Kumar was holding a public office without any authority of law and in violation of article 166(3) of the constitution of India.
In February, 2018 the HC order quashing appointment of Suresh Kumar was challenged by Punjab Government.
A division bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on February 14, 2018, stayed the order quashing Kumar’s appointment.
The government pleaded before the division bench that the appointment of any person as a staff officer to assist him was the Chief Minister's prerogative. It pointed out that Kumar did not possess the power to pass orders on any file.
The appeal added that Kumar neither took any decision nor recorded it. Only the decisions taken by the Chief Minister were recorded on the file.
On February 19, 2018, Suresh Kumar resumed duties as the Chief Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh.
12 hours ago - Chandigarh, July 21, 2020: The controversial tenure of Suresh Kumar IAS (retd), Chief Principal Secretary to Punjab Chief Minister Capt ...
Jun 5, 2018 - Chandigarh, June 5, 2018: Chief Principal Secretary to CM, Punjab Suresh Kumar will be proceeding on Ex-India leave for three weeks from ...
Sep 22, 2019 - Samana, September 22, 2019: Suresh Kumar, Chief Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Punjab, today flagged off Heritage Walk, which started ...
Has CPS Suresh Kumar resigned? By : Babushahi Bureau | Jul 21, 2020 | ...
You've visited this page many times. Last visit: 2/6/20
Jun 13, 2020 - Suresh Kumar inaugurates Bhavan's Model United Nations, calls to uphold right of expression. By : Babushahi Bureau; First Published ...
Sep 8, 2019 - Report of resignation by Chief Minister's Chief Principal Secretary Suresh Kumar baseless. Official spokesman refutes media reports.
Oct 5, 2019 - Paddy purchase to begin today as Arhtiyas end strike after assurance of Suresh Kumar. By : Babushahi Bureau; First Published : Saturday, Oct ...
Apr 17, 2018 - Hearing in CPS Suresh Kumar case adjourned to May 16. Stay on single judge order to continue. Chandigarh, April 17, 2018: Justice Mr ...
Nov 3, 2019 - Suresh Kumar describes it as a path breaking initiative towards apprising youth with life and philosophy of Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji. Rousing ...
Babushahi-Data Bank. Suresh Kumar Vs High court Case -2017. Hearing in CPS Suresh Kumar case adjourned to May 16. Video: Ex-Finance Minister P ...