Rare Case: senior Punjab IAS officer retires without any posting; two IAS officers superannuate this month
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in News/ January 31,2026
This month, two Punjab-cadre IAS officers superannuated after attaining the age of 60.
IAS officers Ajoy Kumar Sinha (1996 batch) and Dilraj Singh (2005 batch) retired this month.
In a rare gesture, 1996-batch IAS officer Ajoy Kumar Sinha, who was serving as Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD) of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) and Punjab State Transmission Corporation Limited (PSTCL), and also as Principal Secretary, Power and New & Renewable Energy, was shifted from all these posts in November 2025 for allegedly not adhering to the Power Minister’s orders. He retired without holding any post or charge of any department.
As per reports, Sinha refused to suspend a Chief Engineer of PSPCL and to remove a Director from his post. This reportedly annoyed the Power Minister, following which marching orders were issued to him. His charges were handed over to a junior-ranked IAS officer, Basant Garg.
After being relieved as CMD of PSPCL and PSTCL, the government asked him to report to the Secretary, Personnel, Government of Punjab, for further posting.
However, no posting was given to him till his retirement, and he ultimately retired without holding any charge or post. The same is confirmed by a senior Punjab IAS officer.
Sinha held several key positions throughout his career. He served as Principal Secretary, Finance Department, Punjab, and as Finance Secretary, UT Chandigarh (on deputation). He also served as Principal Secretary, Housing and Urban Development, Punjab.
Dilraj Singh retired from the post of Secretary, Department of Health and Family Welfare, and Commissioner, Food and Drug Administration.
