SAD's Daljeet Cheema terms CS's appointment as Planning and Development Board Chairman ‘Unconstitutional, Arbitrary’
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, June 22, 2025: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Sunday strongly opposed the Punjab Cabinet’s decision to appoint the Chief Secretary as Chairman of the Punjab Regional Town Planning and Development Board, calling the move “illegal, unconstitutional, and arbitrary.”
Senior SAD leader Dr. Daljeet Singh Cheema said the decision is in direct violation of the Punjab Regional and Town Planning and Development Act, 1995, which clearly designates the Chief Minister as the Chairman and the Housing and Urban Development Minister as the Vice-Chairman of the Board.
“This change not only violates the statutory framework but also undermines the authority of the elected representatives. The Board includes Cabinet Ministers as ex officio members — how can they now report to a bureaucrat? This is a clear downgrading of the Hon’ble Chief Minister’s office,” said Cheema in a sharply worded statement.
Cheema further questioned the motivation behind the Cabinet's decision, hinting at external influence. “Who is pressuring the Cabinet to act against constitutional norms? What forces are compelling such an unprecedented transfer of authority from elected leaders to appointed officials?” he asked.
The SAD leader warned that such actions set a dangerous precedent for governance in Punjab and reflect a systematic attempt to erode the state’s autonomy by diminishing the role of Punjabi leadership in key administrative decisions.
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