Chandigarh, March 13
Mr Avtar Henry joined the Punjab Council of Ministers after the Governor, Lt-Gen J.F.R. Jacob (retd), administered the oath of office and secrecy to him at a simple but largely attended ceremony at Punjab Raj Bhavan here this afternoon.
Among those present were the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, members of his Council of Ministers, a couple of Congress MPs, some office-bearers of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee and supporters of Mr Henry who came all the way from Jalandhar to witness the ceremony.
The supporters raised slogans in favour of Mr Henry whose induction in the council was cleared by the party high command a few days ago. He becomes the 14th Cabinet Minister. As a result, the strength of Council of the Ministers has gone up to 23, including 14 Cabinet Ministers and six Ministers of State. Mr Henry had during his previous tenure served as the Excise and Taxation Minister.
There was a commotion during the oath-taking ceremony when Mr Henry paused as the written statement given to him perhaps read that he was being sworn in as Minister of State. The error, sources said, was because of a missing word. The oath of secrecy, however, made it clear that he was administered the oath as Cabinet Minister.
While the Chief Secretary, Mr Y.S. Ratra, was declaring the ceremony closed, the police band started playing the National Anthem to the great embarrassment of the officials concerned.
With his induction, Jalandhar district gets the maximum representation in the Council of Ministers.
Mr Henry, who represents Jalandhar North in the Vidhan Sabha, has been given the portfolio of Civil Aviation, Science and Technology. The Department of Environment will stay with the Chief Minister.
