Punjab rejects VRS case of BJP’s Bathinda pick

CHANDIGARH: Punjab govt has turned down the voluntary retirement (VRS) plea of IAS officer Parampal Kaur Sidhu, who is the BJP candidate for Bathinda Lok Sabha seat. A letter issued to her by the personnel department on Tuesday has directed her to “resume her duties” as MD, Punjab State Industrial Development Corporation (PSIDC) immediately, failing which “appropriate action” will be taken against her.
While citing shortage of officers for not allowing her VRS , the Punjab govt has said that while Parampal had cited poor health of her mother, aged 81, as a reason for voluntary retirement, but the officer had been seen actively participating in political activities, "which falsify the grounds for voluntary retirement mentioned in her application".The state govt missive mentioned that the condition of three months’ notice period has sill not been waived.
Parampal asked to join work as notice period not waived
Parampal had applied for voluntary retirement from IAS on April 1 as per rule 16 (2) of All India Services (Death-cum-Retirement Benefits) Rules, 1958, requesting that the three months’ notice period be waived. However, the Punjab govt has pointed out that on April 7, the officer directly wrote to the Govt of India, even though she was “serving under the state govt.”
She has been informed that the state govt has still not waived the notice period as required under Rule 16(2) and has not passed any order regarding acceptance of her request for VRS. However, she has “demitted” the charge of the post of MD, PSIDC on her own, in an “unauthorised manner”.
The letter further stated, “Hence you cannot be treated as retired or relieved from service….You are directed to resume your duties as MD, PSIDC immediately, failing which appropriate action will be taken against you.”
Shortage of IAS officers
The Punjab govt has also said that it was facing a shortage of IAS officers as it has only 192 officers in the Punjab cadre, against the sanctioned strength of 231 for the state.
Centre didn’t relax conditions: Punjab
While the undersecretary to Govt of India conveyed to state govt that Parampal Kaur’s VRS be accepted, the Centre has not passed any order relaxing the requirements of Rule 16 (2), the Punjab govt said.