Chandigarh: The power in Punjab is virtually in the hands of the Central government. All senior appointment is being made through the Punjab Governor and not by the elected Akali Dal government. According to reliable sources, Chief Minister Barnala and Finance Minister Balwant Singh consult the Governor for even routine day to day matters.
Mr. R.P. Ohja has been appointed State Home Secretary at the instance of the Center, replacing Mr. N.N. Vohra. Mr. Vohra has proceeded on 2 months leave and is likely to be shifted to the center along with his wife, Mrs. Usha Vohra, who is at present Financial Commissioner in Punjab. Akali Ministers were in favor of appointing S. Swarn Singh Boparai as the Home Secretary but were over ruled by the Governor. Normally all these appointments are made by the Chief Minister in consultation with the concerned Minister and Governor’s approval is only a technical formality.
Mr. Hardayal Singh has again been made Education Secretary and Mr. Jai Singh Gill has been appointed Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister.
- Gurdarsharn Singh Grewal is the new Advocate General of Punjab. He is a senior Advocate, who has been practicing in the Punjab and Haryana High Court for more than two decades. He was chief of the Legal Aid Committee that rendered remarkable free service to the Sikh victims of Police High handiness in particular and all morcha related cases in general.
Article extracted from this publication >> October 11, 1985
