High Court issues contempt notices over IAS officer’s transfer

Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued contempt notices to Punjab’s former and current Chief Secretaries over the transfer of IAS officer Amit Kumar to Chandigarh.

The court emphasized that Kumar, who was appointed as Commissioner–Appellate Authority to investigate the misuse of panchayat land in Mohali, could not be transferred without its approval.

The court has directed that the entire case file be submitted to the office of the Additional Advocate General of India. The next hearing is scheduled for March 9. Amit Kumar, a 2008-batch IAS officer of the Punjab cadre, is currently serving as the Commissioner of Chandigarh Municipal Corporation.

The High Court has sought an explanation from the Punjab government regarding Kumar’s deputation to Chandigarh on October 14, 2024, without prior approval.

The court cited a 2018 order that barred his transfer until the investigation was completed. Despite this, the state government placed him on central deputation.