Rajesh Khullar, a former IAS officer from the 1988 batch, has been named the Chief Principal Secretary to Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. Just a day following his retirement from the civil services, he has been named for this post. This appointment comes as a replacement for the former state Chief Secretary, DS Dhesi, who has been relieved from his role as Chief Principal Secretary.
Rajesh Khullar retired on Thursday, having dedicated 35 years to the civil services. He had been overseeing several crucial departments such as revenue, school education, and public relations within the state government since April, 2023.
In September 2020, Khullar took on the role of Executive Director at the World Bank in Washington DC for a three-year term while also serving as the Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister. In February of the same year, he was repatriated to his home cadre in Haryana at the request of the state government.
Interestingly, retired IAS officer DS Dhesi, who was removed from the role of Chief Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister on Friday morning, was swiftly reassigned to a new position by the evening. Mr. Dhesi has been appointed as the Principal Advisor for Urban Development.
