CHANDIGARH, India: Mr. J.F. Ribeiro, Secretary, Internal Security and Director General, Punjab Police, is being appointed Adviser to the Punjab Governor, Mr. S.S. Ray.

Mr. Ribeiro will be one of the two Advisers being appointed immediately as a part of the administrative reshuffle in the State. The other Advisers, whose name could not be confirmed, are reportedly a Sikh IAS officer at present posted in Delhi.

An announcement regarding the posting of the Advisers is likely in a day or two.

Sources in Delhi indicated that two more Advisers may be appointed later.

The sources stated two reasons for appointing Advisers to the Governor. It was felt that the State Administration needed to be revamped as there were numerous complaints about its functioning. The Punjab Governor, who had more than once reiterated that he would have no Advisers, was finally convinced that there was need for having Advisers.

Secondly, Mr. Ribeiro has been reiterating that when he was appointed DGP, Punjab, and the Government of India had issued a specific order protecting his status as Special Secretary to the GOI.

The Punjab government had held in obeisance the post of DGP with Rs. 7,600 per month as the pay scale and created another post of DGP with Rs. 8,000 scale on November 1, 1985. he should be placed senior to Mr. R.P. Ojha, who was given that scale in May, 1987. On more than one occasion he had quibbled over being placed lower to Mr.Ojha and some other officers in order of precedence in official communication.

Thus by making Mr. Ribeiro as Adviser to the Governor, and Mr. R.P. Ojha as Chief Secretary, a piquant situation has been avoided. Mr. Ojha, who belongs to the 1957 batch of IAS officers, is due to retire in December this year.

Mr. MS. Gill, who belongs to the 1958 batch, is the next senior TAS officer. He still has about six

Years’ service and is at present the Financial Commissioner (Development). He is being elevated to the post of Additional Chief Secretary, the post hitherto held by Mr. Ojha. However, Mr. Gill will continue to look after the development work in the State.

There is reportedly a move to appoint other officer Fas Home Secretary. The names of Mr. S.L. Kapoor, Financial Commissioner (Taxation) and Mr. A’S. Pooni, Commissioner, Patiala Division, are being mentioned in this connection.

The sources said Mr. Ribeiro would look after the Department of Internal Security as Adviser.

Mr. KP.S. Gill, Additional Director General, Punjab Police, is being elevated to the post of Director General. He is known to be a low profile police officer unlike Mr. Ribeiro.

 

Article extracted from this publication >> April 22, 1988