A significant administrative reshuffle has been initiated in Chandigarh following the planned leave of a senior bureaucrat. The changes are set to ensure seamless governance during the officer's absence.
Key Officer Proceeds on Leave, Prompting Changes
Swapnil M Naik, an IAS officer, will be on leave from December 12 to January 4. This extended period of absence has necessitated the temporary redistribution of his crucial responsibilities among other capable officers within the Chandigarh administration. The move is a standard administrative procedure to prevent any disruption in public service delivery.
Detailed Breakdown of New Responsibilities
The administration has meticulously allocated the vacated charges to three officers. Prerna Puri, IAS, will shoulder additional duties. She is now entrusted with the role of Secretary of the House Allotment Committee and will also serve as the Chairman of CITCO (Chandigarh Industrial and Tourism Development Corporation Limited). She will handle these portfolios alongside her existing responsibilities.
Another senior IAS officer, Pardeep Kumar, has been given the charge of Secretary, Personnel, and Secretariat Establishment. This is a critical department managing human resources and establishment matters for the administration.
Furthermore, Anuradha S Chagti, a CSS officer, has been assigned the charge of Secretary, Hospitality. She will oversee this department in addition to her current duties, ensuring the continuity of hospitality-related functions.
Ensuring Continuity in Governance
This proactive reassignment of departments underscores the administration's focus on maintaining operational continuity. By temporarily redistributing the work of an officer on long leave, the government machinery aims to function without hiccups. The officers assuming the new charges are experienced and are expected to manage the additional workload efficiently during this interim period, which spans over three weeks including the holiday season.
The orders are effective for the duration of Swapnil M Naik's leave and ensure that all public-facing departments and crucial committees continue their work without interruption. Such planned reshuffles are vital for the smooth functioning of civic administration, especially in a key Union Territory like Chandigarh.
