In a shocking bureaucratic blunder, the Punjab Government has officially admitted that the Department of Administrative Reforms, which was allocated to Cabinet Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, never actually existed. It took the government nearly 20 months to recognize the error, prompting a formal correction through a gazette notification issued today.
The notification states, “Punjab Governor, on the advice of the Chief Minister, is pleased to make an amendment to the earlier notification regarding the portfolios of ministers with effect from February 7, 2025.” With this amendment, Dhaliwal will now hold charge only of the NRI Affairs Department, the only legitimate portfolio assigned to him.
How the Mistake Happened
Dhaliwal was initially assigned the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare portfolio when he joined the Cabinet. However, during the reshuffle in May 2023, he was relieved of that charge and instead given the NRI Affairs Ministry along with the Administrative Reforms Department. The same departments were reallocated to him in another Cabinet reshuffle in September 2024—only for the government to now realize that one of them never existed in the first place.
Political Fallout and Reactions
This administrative lapse has triggered political controversy, with opposition parties questioning the AAP-led Punjab government’s efficiency. Many have criticized the government for its lack of oversight, arguing that such an oversight reflects poorly on governance.
Dhaliwal, who is the fifth senior-most minister in the Punjab Cabinet after CM Bhagwant Mann, Finance Minister Harpal Cheema, New and Renewable Energy Minister Aman Arora, and Social Justice Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur, has yet to comment on the matter.