Farewell Function at Punjab Raj Bhavan Honours Three Officers; New Chief Secretary Welcomed
Chandigarh, October 12:
A farewell function was organised at the Punjab Raj Bhavan to bid adieu to three distinguished officers — Rajeev Verma, IAS, on his transfer as Chief Secretary, New Delhi; and Ajay Chagti, IAS, and Ramesh Gupta, State Informatics Officer, on their retirement from government service.
The event also marked a warm welcome to H. Rajesh Prasad, the newly appointed Chief Secretary of UT Chandigarh.
The Hon’ble Governor of Punjab and Administrator, UT Chandigarh, Gulab Chand Kataria, presided over the ceremony and felicitated the outgoing officers for their exemplary service to the Union Territory. Lady Governor Anita Kataria was also present on the occasion.
In his address, the Hon’ble Governor lauded Rajeev Verma for his sincere and dedicated tenure as Chief Secretary, UT Chandigarh. He noted that under Verma’s leadership, the Administration achieved significant milestones, including the successful implementation of the three new criminal laws — the first in the country — and the privatisation of the power sector in Chandigarh.
Mr. Kataria highlighted that the remarkable progress made in the Union Territory over the past one and a half years was largely due to the able leadership, guidance, and close monitoring by Verma. The Governor extended his best wishes to him for his new and prestigious assignment as Chief Secretary of Delhi.
Expressing gratitude, Rajeev Verma thanked the Hon’ble Governor for his guidance and encouragement during his tenure, and appreciated the support and cooperation extended by the team of officers in the Chandigarh Administration.
The Governor also conveyed his heartfelt best wishes to Ajay Chagti and Ramesh Gupta for a fulfilling and purposeful post-retirement life, acknowledging their valuable contributions to governance and public service.
During the event, the Administrator formally welcomed H. Rajesh Prasad as the new Chief Secretary of UT Chandigarh. He expressed confidence that under Prasad’s leadership, the Administration would continue to uphold the highest standards of service delivery and governance.
In his remarks, H. Rajesh Prasad thanked the Hon’ble Governor for the warm welcome and reaffirmed his commitment to work in close collaboration with all stakeholders to realise the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. He emphasised that justice, fairness, transparency, and efficiency will remain the guiding principles of his administration, with public welfare as the foremost priority.
The event was attended by Vivek Partap Singh, Principal Secretary to the Governor; Mandip Singh Brar, Home Secretary; Diprava Lakra, Finance Secretary; Prerna Puri, Secretary Education; and other senior officers of the Chandigarh Administration.
