Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has formally requested the Union Government to reconsider its decision to appoint an officer from outside the state cadre as the General Manager of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) for the Punjab Region. This move challenges a recent clearance by the Centre for Ritika Pawar, an AGMUT cadre IAS officer, to assume the crucial post headquartered in Chandigarh.
A Challenge to Long-Standing Practice
In a demi-official letter addressed to Union Minister for Food and Consumer Affairs Pralhad Joshi on Monday, Mann strongly objected to the recommendation made by the Civil Services Board. The Chief Minister emphasized that appointing an officer from the AGMUT (Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram and Union Territory) cadre goes against a long-standing administrative practice spanning over six decades.
Mann argued that a Punjab-cadre IAS officer has always held the GM position at FCI's Punjab Region. He stated that the state's unique security, agricultural, and socio-political landscape requires an officer intimately familiar with ground realities. "The functioning of FCI in Punjab is deeply intertwined with the state’s agricultural ecosystem and national food procurement operations," Mann wrote, highlighting Punjab's pivotal role in the nation's food security.
Historical Record and Administrative Necessity
To bolster his argument, the Chief Minister provided a detailed historical record. He enclosed a list of all officers who have served as GM of FCI Punjab Region since its inception on July 20, 1965. According to this list, out of 37 officers over nearly 60 years, 23 were regular appointments. All 23 regular appointees were IAS officers from the Punjab cadre.
Officers from other cadres were given charge only on a temporary, ad-hoc basis during interim arrangements. "In the last six decades, not a single regular General Manager of FCI Punjab Region has been from outside the Punjab cadre," the letter asserted. The previous GM, B Srinivasan, a 2011-batch Punjab-cadre IAS officer, retired on December 31. Subsequently, the additional charge was given to Sharandeep Kaur Brar, a Haryana-cadre officer.
State's Concerns and Proposed Solution
Mann expressed respect for the Civil Services Board but insisted the decision needed reconsideration due to "considerable concern and public outrage" in Punjab. He clarified that the issue is not about any individual officer's competence but about ensuring administrative efficiency and protecting the interests of farmers and beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act.
The Chief Minister informed the Union Minister that the Punjab government has already submitted a panel of eligible Punjab-cadre IAS officers for the post. He noted there are over 200 serving IAS officers from the Punjab cadre, and the Centre could select any suitable candidate from among them. "If a new panel is required, we will be happy to submit it immediately," Mann offered.
This communication follows an earlier letter from Mann dated November 6, 2025, where he first flagged the issue. The Centre's response, dated December 22, 2025, informed the state of the Board's recommendation for Pawar. In a previous letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah on November 22, Mann had also underscored Punjab's sensitive security context, having borne the brunt of militancy and cross-border threats, which further necessitates an officer with deep local understanding.
Concluding his appeal, Mann expressed confidence that the Centre would "consider this matter thoughtfully and generously" and appoint a Punjab-cadre IAS officer to the key position, thereby upholding a tradition rooted in administrative pragmatism.
