The central government on Monday (14.10.2024) appointed Punjab cadre IAS officer Diprava Lakra (IAS:2005:PB) as new Finance Secretary, Union Territory of Chandigarh for three years.
According to order issued by DoPT, ” The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Home Affairs for appointment of Shri Diprava Lakra IAS (PB:2005) to the post of Finance Secretary, UT of Chandigarh on Inter-Cadre deputation from Punjab Cadre to AGMUT Cadre for a period of three years, in relaxation of the policy.”
The Finance Secretary’s post had fallen vacant on June 18 after the tenure of Vijay Namdeorao Zade (IAS:2002:PB) ended and he was relieved. Zade had joined the UT administration in May 2021 for three-year tenure. In May 2024, his tenure was extended by one month in view of the Lok Sabha elections, as he was the Chief Electoral Officer of Chandigarh.
In the first week of June, Punjab initially sent a panel of three IAS officers-Amit Dhaka (IAS:2006:PB), Mohammed Tayyab (IAS:2007:PB) and Amit Kumar (IAS:2008:PB)-for the Finance Secretary post. However, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs had rejected this panel and requested a fresh one. Following this, the UT administration had sought a fresh panel from the Punjab government.
The Punjab government then sent a fresh panel of three IAS officers — Basant Garg, Diprava Lakra and Daljit Singh Mangat — all from the 2005 batch of the Punjab cadre IAS officers, leading to Lakra’s appointment.
