Janmeja Singh Sekhon

Janmeja Singh Sekhon
MLA, Punjab
In office
1997 - 2002
Preceded byRavinder Singh (politician)
Succeeded byRavinder Singh (politician)
ConstituencyFirozepur Cantonment
In office
2007 - 2012
Preceded byRavinder Singh (politician)
Succeeded byJoginder Singh (politician)
ConstituencyFirozepur Cantonment
In office
20122017
Preceded byNew Constituency
Succeeded byJagdev Singh Kamalu (AAP)
ConstituencyMaur
Minister for Irrigation
In office
2007 - 2015
Chief MinisterParkash Singh Badal
Preceded byLal Singh (politician)
Personal details
PartyShiromani Akali Dal

Janmeja Singh Sekhon is an Indian politician and belongs to the Shiromani Akali Dal. He was Minister for PWD in the Punjab Government.[1] He has been holding this post since 2007.

Personal life

His father's name is Gurdit Singh. His brother Justice (retd) Jai Singh Sekhon is the Lokpal of Punjab.[2] He has a son (Preetinder Singh Sekhon) and a daughter (Prabhleen Sekhon).

Involvement in Irrigation Scam during SAD-BJP Government (2007–2017)

The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) alleges that a contractor named Gurinder Singh was illegally awarded irrigation department contracts worth over ₹1,000–1,200 crore, largely at inflated rates, sometimes over 50% above departmental norms. This contract was sanctioned by Janmeja Singh Sekhon.[3] The First Information Report (FIR) was registered on August 17, 2017, invoking the Prevention of Corruption Act and various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). In September 2022, the government issued lookout circulars against Sekhon, Dhillon, and three retired IAS officials (Sarvesh Kaushal, KBS Sidhu, Kahan Singh Pannu) to prevent them from leaving the country amid the probe. December 30–31, 2022: Sekhon was questioned by VB for 7–8 hours, focusing on tender allotments, role of his office and staff, and alleged misuse of funds from 2007–2017.[4][5]

Political career

He was first elected for the Punjab Legislative Assembly in 1997 as an Akali Dal candidate from Firozepur Cantonment.[6] He was again elected in 2007 from Firozepur Cantonment.[7] In the Parkash Singh Badal government he was made Minister of Irrigation.[8] In 2012 he successfully contested from new constituency Maur.[9] In the new government, he retained Irrigation ministry.[1][10]

Electoral performance

Punjab Assembly election, 2012: Maur[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
SAD Janmeja Singh Sekhon 45,349 37.1
INC Mangat Rai Bansal 43,962 35.9
PPoP Manpreet Singh Badal 26,398 21.6
Majority 1,387 1.1
Turnout 1,22,163 85.3
SAD win (new seat)
Punjab Assembly Election 2022: Zira
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
AAP Naresh Kataria 64,034 42.35
SAD Janmeja Singh Sekhon 41,258 27.29
INC Kulbir Singh Zira 40,615 26.86
BJP Avtar Singh Zira 2,007 1.33
NOTA None of the above 676 0.45%
Majority 22,776 15.06
Turnout
Registered electors 188,313 [12]

References