Following the move of Parampal Kaur Sidhu, daughter-in-law of Akali Dal leader Sikandar Singh Maluka, joining the BJP in New Delhi, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann clarified on Thursday that her resignation as an IAS officer has not yet been accepted by the state government.
Sidhu and her husband made their political allegiance known by joining the BJP in the national capital, in the presence of Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri and party national general secretary Vinod Tawde.
Despite Sidhu's submission of resignation, it is yet to receive approval from the Chief Minister, after being forwarded by the chief secretary. Sidhu held the position of managing director at the Punjab State Industrial Corporation.
"Biba ji's (Sidhu) haste in her IAS resignation isn't recognized by the Punjab government...there's a procedural aspect to resignations. It's crucial to comprehend the proper procedure; otherwise, it may jeopardize your entire career," Mann stated in a social media post.
Contrary to Mann's statement, Union Minister Puri asserted that her resignation was indeed accepted on Wednesday.
Reports indicate that the Department of Personnel and Training at the Centre, the competent authority, acknowledged her resignation the same day.
As per resignation processing guidelines, the state cadre must provide information regarding any outstanding dues and the officer's vigilance status when forwarding resignation applications to the central government for acceptance.
Mann emphasized that Sidhu's rush to enter politics resulted in her resignation not being accepted promptly, although she's eager to contest elections.
The Chief Minister reiterated that it's within his jurisdiction and responsibility to determine the acceptance timing and process of resignations.
"We must adhere to rules and regulations in every scenario. Resignations aren't immediately accepted; they undergo a procedural timeline," Mann explained.
He further added that the government is probing the motives behind Sidhu's resignation and hinted at potential repercussions if any wrongdoing is discovered.
Sidhu, a 2011-batch IAS officer, tendered her resignation recently amid speculation about her political affiliations, possibly aligning with the BJP.
Scheduled to retire in October, Sidhu might be nominated for the Bathinda Lok Sabha seat, currently held by Akali Dal MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal.
Notably, Sidhu is the daughter-in-law of Maluka, a senior Akali Dal leader and former minister, who serves as a member of the SAD's manifesto committee for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
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