Shimla: Senior IAS officer Sanjay Gupta, newly appointed as acting Chief Secretary of Himachal Pradesh, took charge on Friday and wasted no time in tightening the screws on administrative discipline.
In his first official directives, Mr Gupta, an IAS officer of the 1988 batch from the Himachal Pradesh cadre, emphasized punctuality, transparency in travel, and timely disposal of files, aiming to set a tone of accountability across top bureaucratic ranks.
He made it clear that administrative secretaries and department directors must report to work on time, and must inform the Chief Minister, concerned ministers, and the Chief Secretary if they intend to travel out of station.
“Set an Example” — Gupta’s Message to Bureaucrats
Speaking after assuming charge, Gupta said:
“The Chief Minister has given clear instructions to clear files promptly. He has also asked me to conduct a review within 15 to 30 days and report back on officers who are underperforming. I will personally set an example for my colleagues.”
Gupta’s comments indicate a strong push for accountability and performance-based monitoring within the state’s administrative machinery.
Financial Prudence Is the Need of the Hour
On the economic front, Gupta admitted that Himachal Pradesh is currently facing a financial crunch.
“The state will face financial difficulties for the next five to six months. However, the situation is expected to improve in the coming two years,” he noted.
He emphasized curbing unnecessary expenditure and eliminating wastage of government resources, citing his successful tenure as Chairman of the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited (HPSEBL).
“We turned around the Electricity Board and earned ₹500 crore in 15 months—not by doing anything extraordinary, but simply by stopping wasteful practices. Government systems bleed money due to inefficiencies, and that’s where change must begin,” Gupta said.
“We Killed the Golden Goose”: Gupta on Power Sector Mismanagement
In a candid remark, Gupta pointed out that the state’s power sector had been mismanaged, leading to unnecessary losses.
“An organisation like HPSEBL should never have gone into losses. Unfortunately, our own officers and systems killed the golden goose. But we showed that recovery is possible,” he added, vowing to bring the same mindset to his new role.
What’s Next?
With a mandate from the Chief Minister to identify non-performing officers, Sanjay Gupta has made it clear that status quo won’t be tolerated. His dual focus on discipline and financial efficiency is likely to influence how the state’s top bureaucracy functions in the coming months.
His warning is also a message to officials across the board: discipline starts from the top, and accountability is non-negotiable.
