Punjab Government Suspends Two IAS Officers Over Mobile Phone Procurement Delay
The Punjab government, led by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), has suspended two senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers, Kamal Kishor Yadav and Jaspreet Singh, citing a delay in procuring mobile phones for Anganwadi workers. This action, taken under Rule 3 (1) of the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969, is not an isolated incident but part of a continuing pattern of disciplinary measures against bureaucrats in the state.
Details of the Suspension
Kamal Kishor Yadav, a 2003-batch IAS officer, served as the administrative secretary of the Department of Industries and Commerce, Investment Promotion, and Promotion of Information Technology. Jaspreet Singh, a 2014-batch officer, was the managing director of the Punjab Information and Communication Technology Corporation Limited (INFOTECH). Both officers have been ordered to remain in Chandigarh during their suspension period.
The suspension followed a legal issue in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, where a mobile phone vendor alleged that a work order for supplying approximately 28,000 4G phones was canceled after the government decided to provide 5G phones instead. Government sources indicate that top AAP leadership was angered when no representative appeared in court to defend the case, leading to the officers' suspension from the procurement department.
A Pattern of Suspensions Under AAP Rule
This recent suspension adds to a series of similar actions taken by the AAP government in Punjab over the past few years. In February 2025, the state suspended Muktsar's deputy commissioner, Rajesh Tripathi, following serious corruption complaints and a thorough inquiry.
In August 2023, senior IAS officers D K Tiwari and Gurpreet Singh Khaira were suspended for a "technically flawed" decision regarding the dissolution of panchayats six months before their tenure ended, as the government sought to postpone elections. Both officers were later reinstated.
In January 2023, IAS officer Neelima was booked by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau in an alleged corruption case involving irregular transfer of an industrial plot and subsequently suspended. After protests by the IAS officers' association, which were curbed by AAP leadership, she obtained bail and rejoined duty.
Resignations and Further Disciplinary Actions
In November 2025, the suspension of Harish Kumar, chief engineer of the Guru Gobind Singh Super Thermal Power Plant, made headlines. Shortly after, on November 4, 2025, the services of Harjit Singh, director of generation at Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), were terminated, despite opposition from the state power engineers' association due to his expertise.
On November 5, 2025, Ravi Chawla, technical advisor to the Punjab government, tendered his resignation, which was accepted on a gazetted holiday. Chawla was credited with saving over Rs 500 crore for the state government during his 14-month tenure.
Later, on November 7, 2025, Punjab Civil Services (PCS) officer Charumita, then additional deputy commissioner of Moga, was suspended for alleged irregularities in a Rs 3.7 crore land acquisition case for a highway project.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) also took action, suspending Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ravjot Kaur Grewal of Tarn Taran on November 8, 2025, following a complaint by the Shiromani Akali Dal about bias and misuse of authority during the Model Code of Conduct enforcement.
On November 15, 2025, the Punjab government suspended Amritsar (Rural) SSP Maninder Singh, a 2019-batch IPS officer, for alleged failure in taking strict action against gangsters, despite reports of multiple police encounters during his tenure.
Context and Implications
These incidents highlight a broader trend of the AAP government in Punjab taking stringent disciplinary actions against bureaucrats and officials, often linked to corruption allegations, procedural flaws, or administrative failures. The pattern raises questions about governance and bureaucratic morale in the state, as the government continues to enforce strict accountability measures.
