Punjab Minister Dhaliwal held non-existent portfolio for 20 months: Report
The Punjab government has reportedly admitted that the Department of Administrative Reforms, assigned to Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, never existed — nearly 20 months after its allocation.
A gazette notification issued today confirmed the department's non-existence and stated that Dhaliwal will now hold charge only of the NRI Affairs Ministry. “In partial modification of the previous Punjab government notification regarding the allocation of portfolios, among ministers, the department of administrative reforms earlier allotted to Dhaliwal is not in existence as of date,” the notification said.
Dhaliwal, who previously held the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare portfolio, was relieved of it in a May 2023 Cabinet reshuffle. He retained NRI Affairs and was also assigned Administrative Reforms. In another reshuffle in September 2024, both departments remained under his charge — until the recent revelation that one of them did not exist.
A gazette notification issued today confirmed the department's non-existence and stated that Dhaliwal will now hold charge only of the NRI Affairs Ministry. “In partial modification of the previous Punjab government notification regarding the allocation of portfolios, among ministers, the department of administrative reforms earlier allotted to Dhaliwal is not in existence as of date,” the notification said.
Dhaliwal, who previously held the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare portfolio, was relieved of it in a May 2023 Cabinet reshuffle. He retained NRI Affairs and was also assigned Administrative Reforms. In another reshuffle in September 2024, both departments remained under his charge — until the recent revelation that one of them did not exist.