Appointment of Shayin’s ex-PA in violation of service rules, finds inquiry

Almost a fortnight after a vigilance inquiry was initiated over the appointment of UT deputy commissioner’s former personal secretary Punam Malik, the report has found her appointment as secretary of Chandigarh Market Committee was in violation of the service rules.

Almost a fortnight after a vigilance inquiry was initiated over the appointment of UT deputy commissioner’s former personal secretary Punam Malik, the report has found her appointment as secretary of Chandigarh Market Committee was in violation of the service rules.

A senior UT administration officer said following the inquiry, it had been recommended to scrap Malik’s appointment and make a fresh appointment. Several complaints against Malik’s appointment had highlighted that she was transferred as senior assistant in the Chandigarh State Agricultural Marketing Board on January 15, and within a week she was appointed as secretary of the Chandigarh Market Committee, Sector 26.

Significantly, according to administration rules, only assistants or senior assistants with a working experience of minimum 12 years can be appointed as secretary of the market committee.

However, the inquiry was silent on action against Malik or the appointing authority, deputy commissioner Mohammed Shayin, the officer said.

The UT personnel department about a fortnight back had sought the copy of the initial appointment letter vide which Malik was appointed in the UT Red Cross Society. The actual designation of Malik in her parent department was also sought.

After the inquiry was marked, Malik was stripped of her duties in the Chandigarh State Agricultural Marketing Board, and Chandigarh Market Committee, and was sent to the personnel department.

steeped in controversy from the start

Punam Malik, an employee of Chandigarh Red Cross Society, was not eligible for appointment to the market board as per Class-3 service rules of the Punjab Agricultural Produce Markets Act, 1961, as applicable to Chandigarh. In case of transfer on deputation, an employee should be from among the assistants working in the civil secretariat with a minimum experience of two years. She was holding the dual charge of DC’s personal assistant and Red Cross Society’s joint secretary for about a year.