Chandigarh, Feb 23: Juhi Jalota, an officer of the 2018 batch of the Indian Foreign Service (IFS), assumed charge as the Deputy Passport Officer and Head of Office at the Regional Passport Office (RPO) in Chandigarh on Monday. She takes over the role from Priyanka Mehtani, a 2015-batch IFS officer, who has completed her tenure at the post.
In her new capacity, Jalota will be responsible for the administration and oversight of passport issuance and related services for the Union Territory of Chandigarh. Her jurisdiction also extends to several key districts across Punjab and Haryana that fall under the Chandigarh RPO’s mandate.
The Ministry of External Affairs veteran brings significant international experience to the regional role. Jalota previously served in Indian diplomatic missions in Madrid, Spain, and Buenos Aires, Argentina. She has also held various administrative positions at the Ministry’s headquarters in New Delhi.
Officials at the RPO affirmed that the transition was completed on Monday morning. They stated that the office remains committed to streamlining service delivery for applicants across the region. Jalota asserted her commitment to maintaining the efficiency of the department as she began her first day in the new office.
