Chief Principal Secretary to CM Suresh Kumar with Captain Amarinder Singh ( File Photo )
Question mark over his attendance in today’s Cabinet meeting
Darbari conspiracy angle, behind high court case not ruled out
By Baljit Balli
Chandigarh, August 4, 2017: A political-cum-administrative crisis has hit 4-month old Amarinder government.
First it was rebellious overtones of Cabinet Minister Navjot Sidhu over inaction against cable Network Company and Akalis. Now CM Amarinder’s Chief Principal Secretary Suresh Kumar has refused to attend office.
Buzz is going around in the corridors of power that Suresh Kumar’s displeasure has to do with the petition filed in the HC challenging his appointment.
He has reportedly taken stand to not attend office till disposal of the petition filed by a lawyer Ramandeep Singh. Its next date of hearing is fixed for August 30.
Sources told babushahi.com that CM Amarinder sent two ministers to Suresh Kumar’s sector-16 residence at Chandigarh yesterday to bring him around. The ministers, one of them a very senior one, assured Suresh Kumar that the government stood by him.
It was also learnt that Suresh Kumar hinted at staying away from the Cabinet meeting being held today afternoon. But the CM has ordered AG Punjab to fight the court case with full legal might.
It is likely that CM will personally call Suresh Kumar today to sort out the matter.
One of the ministers who visited Suresh Kumar on CM’s behalf told babushahi.com that “the matter will be sorted out by CM Sahib but we also stand by Suresh Kumar. He is an able and honest officer.”
Apparently the controversy over Suresh Kumar’s refusal to attend office is being linked with the petition challenging his appointment in the HC. But behind the scenes buzz links it with some sort of conspiracy and intrigue hatched against him by a section of the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO).
In a report appearing in Punjabi Tribune, its senior reporter has hinted at suspected persons involved in this alleged conspiracy.
Notably, Suresh Kumar enjoys the reputation of an able and honest administrator. He had earlier served on important posts during Akali-BJP and Congress regimes. At present, he holds the command of the CMO but no charge of any irregularity or corruption has ever been leveled against him.
It is possible that Amarinder’s complete faith in him and his style of working may not to be the liking of some politicians or a section of bureaucrats.
First posted at 11.50 am on August 04,2017
Edited by Raju William, Associate Editor , Babushahi.com
Realter news link of Punjabi Tribune :
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