CHANDIGARH : The Punjab Chief Minister Surjit Singh Barnala and Finance Minister Mr. Balwant Singh, have retained most of the portfolios held by them before the expansion of the Ministry on June 6th. Mr. Basant Singh Khalsa has been divested of Health portfolio and given Education which was held by Sukhjinder Singh one of the three ministers who resigned after the police action in Golden Temple Complex. There is no change in the departments of Major Singh Uboke. Agriculture and Horti-Culture held by Amarinder Singh have been allotted to Mr. Harbajan Singh Sandhu, Mr. Natha Singh Dalam retained Information and Public Relation and also medical research and medical education.

Portfolio of Co-operatives has been given to Prem Singh Chundumajra, president of youth wing of Akali Dal. Minister of State Harpreet Inder Singh will hold independent charge of transport; Mr. Sukhdey Singh Dhillon independent charge of health and family welfare previously held by Basant Singh Khalsa. The long awaited announcement of the portfolios was made by Chief Minister, Sunit ‘Singh Barnala, at a press conference a few days back in Chandigarh. Following is a complete list of the ministers and their portfolios:

 CABINET MINISTERS.

  1. Sunjit Singh Barnala General Administration and Justice Law and Order Co-ordination irrigation, Food and Supplies, and personnel Administration.
  2. Balwant Singh Finance Excise and Taxation.
  3. Basant Singh Khalsa Education and Languages.
  4. Major Singh Uboke Revenue and re-habilitation.
  5. Harbajan Singh Sandhu Agriculture and Hort-culture.
  6. Natha Singh Dalam Information and Public Relations, Medical Research and Education.
  7. Prem Singh Chandumajra Ministers of State Co-operatives.
  8. Snchnal Sinch Public Health.
  9. Tara Singh Lyalpuri independent charge of colonization and also attached to Major Singh Uboke for revenue.
  10. Baldey Singh Chahal Independent charge of rural development.
  11. Kasturi Lal Independent charge of printing and stationary and tourism,
  12. Sukhdev Singh Dhillon Independent charge of Health and Family Welfare.
  13. Harpreetinder Singh Independent charge of Transport.
  14. Mulkiat S. Sidhu Independent charge of Planning and attached to Chandu for Cooperatives.
  15. Hari Singh Zira Independent charge of Housing and Urban development.
  16. Mohinder S, Saianawala Independent charge of Local Self Govemment.
  17. Nirmal Singh Kahlon Independent charge of Technical & Industrial Education and attached to Basant Singh.
  18. Upkar Singh Randhawa Inde pendent charge of forest soil coordination, community development and attached to Balwant Singh for excise and taxation.
  19. Surinderpal Singh Gill Independent conservation, wild life and attached to Harbajan Singh Sandhu for Agriculture and Horti-culture.
  20. Surjt Singh MinhasIn charge of Parliamentary Affairs and attached Chief Minister for irrigation and power.

14, Jagdev S. Tajpuri Independent charge of Animal husbandry, dairy development and fisheries 15. Harjinder S. Dhaliwal Independent charge of P.W.D.B. &R. 16, Captain Kamaljit Singh Independent charge of sports and youth welfare and attached to Chief Minister for home.

  1. Baldey Singh Mann Attached to Chief Minister for food and supplies.
  2. Nusrat Ali Khan-Independent charge of Jails and civil defense and cultural affairs.
  3. Dalip S. Pandi Independent charge of Welfare of scheduled caste and backward classes.
  4. Prem Gupta Independent charge of labor and employment.
  5. Deputy Minister Kundan Singh Patang attached to Health Minister and Sarwan Singh attached to P.W.D.B. and R.
  6. Parliamentary Secretary -Gurhachan Sinch Minochiol.

Article extracted from this publication >> May 23, 1986