New Delhi/Haryana: The Haryana government has clarified that Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi (IAS: 1990 batch) will continue to hold the administrative charge even while on medical leave following heart bypass surgery. The announcement ends speculation about a possible temporary replacement for the state’s top bureaucrat.
Rastogi Undergoes Bypass Surgery, On Leave Until January 22
Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi, 60, suffered a heart attack on the night of January 8. Medical investigations revealed a 100% blockage in one artery and 92% in another, necessitating bypass surgery on January 9 at Fortis Hospital, Mohali.
Rastogi, who also holds the additional charge of the Finance Department, will remain on medical leave until January 22. During this period, Chief Minister Nayab Saini will directly handle files where the CM is the competent authority, while other administrative matters at the Chief Secretary level will be managed by designated IAS officers.
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Administrative Work Continues Without CS
For the first time in Haryana, the state administration has been functioning without the direct supervision of the Chief Secretary for over a week. The unprecedented situation sparked speculation that a senior IAS officer might be assigned the additional charge of Chief Secretary.
However, an official communication issued on Friday confirmed that Rastogi will continue to hold the charge, thereby ending uncertainty and speculation within the bureaucracy.
Delegation of Responsibilities During Leave
Rastogi’s Officer on Special Duty (OSD) has issued directives to five IAS officers posted in the Chief Secretary’s office to streamline file movement and administrative decision-making. The officers have been instructed as follows:
All matters where the Chief Minister is the competent authority will be submitted directly to the CM.
Cases where the Chief Secretary is the competent authority will be handled by the respective officers at their own departmental levels starting January 16.
A daily list of all pending matters will be sent to the OSD by 5 PM every day.
Officers are not to go on leave during this period, and in unavoidable cases, prior permission from the Chief Minister is mandatory.
Key Officers Handling Departments
The responsibilities have been divided among the five IAS officers in the Chief Secretary’s office as follows:
- PC Meena (IAS: 2004:HY) – Commissioner and Secretary, Human Resources (HR) and General Administration Department (GAD)
- Pankaj (IAS: 2009:HY) – Secretary (Personnel), overseeing Personnel, Training, and Parliamentary Affairs
- Varsha Khangwal (IAS-HCS) – Vigilance matters
- Samwartak Singh (IAS-HCS) – Secretariat establishment matters
- Priyanka Soni (IAS: 2012:HY) – Monitoring and coordination work
This delegation ensures continuity in decision-making and is expected to be replicated in the Finance and Planning departments, whose charge is also held by Rastogi.
Background and Service Record
Anurag Rastogi was appointed Haryana’s Chief Secretary in February 2025 and was granted a one-year service extension. He is due to retire on June 30, 2026. Rastogi’s tenure has been marked by proactive administration, and the current directives reflect the government’s effort to maintain stability during his temporary absence.
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