Shimla: In a notable development, Himachal Pradesh Administrative Service (HAS) officer Sanjeev Kumar Bhot has applied for voluntary retirement, expressing dissatisfaction over repeated transfers during his tenure. Bhot, who was serving as Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Dharamshala, cited personal reasons and administrative harassment as his motivation to step down.
Originally from Rangrik village in Lahaul-Spiti, Bhot has been transferred four times in two and a half years under the current state government. Most recently, he was transferred to SDM Bharmour, a position he has declined to join, opting instead to seek retirement from service.
Bhot said, “I don’t want to become another Vimal Negi,” referring to the earlier case of a Himachal civil servant who made headlines for a similar exit under contentious circumstances. “I have no complaint against the state government, which is doing commendable work. However, I feel harassed due to the actions of certain officials,” he added. “If I’ve made any mistake, I would like to be informed, but I cannot keep moving my family around endlessly.”
Bhot’s transfer timeline includes:
- May 29, 2023 – Appointed AC-to-DC in Reckong Peo (Kinnaur).
- Late 2023 – Transferred to SDM Dodra Kwar, served for about a month.
- March 2024 – Transferred to SDM Dharamshala ahead of the by-election.
- April 2025 – Transferred to SDM Bharmour, which he declined to join.
Having begun his career as a Naib Tehsildar in 1998, Bhot has held various posts, including Tehsildar Kaja, Kinnaur, and Dharamshala. Known for his grounded administrative style, he is married to a JBT teacher, and the couple has two daughters and a son.
The application for voluntary retirement has been submitted to the Chief Secretary of Himachal Pradesh. The matter has drawn attention within administrative circles, sparking conversation around transfer policies and their impact on officers’ morale and family life.
