Shimla: In a strategic administrative move, the Himachal Pradesh government has appointed senior IAS officer Sanjay Gupta (IAS: 1988) to a position with the rank, status, and responsibility equivalent to that of the state’s Chief Secretary.
The order, issued late Tuesday, September 30, 2025, comes in the wake of Prabodh Saxena’s retirement and the reported refusal of a further extension by the Union government.
Bypassing the Traditional Chief Secretary Appointment
The Department of Personnel notification dated September 30 outlines Gupta’s transfer from his previous role as Chairman of the H.P. State Electricity Board Ltd. to Chairman of the H.P. State Pollution Control Board. He will also retain the additional charge of Chairman-cum-Managing Director of the Ropeways and Rapid Transport System Development Corporation H.P. Ltd.
The key provision in the notification states –
“Shri Sanjay Gupta, IAS (HP:1988), shall work under the overall administrative control and supervision of the Hon’ble Chief Minister and shall be equivalent in rank, status and responsibility to the post of Chief Secretary to the Government of Himachal Pradesh.”
This move effectively allows the state government to position its senior-most IAS officer at the top of the administrative hierarchy under the direct supervision of the Chief Minister, sidestepping the need for formal approval from the Union government’s Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) for the substantive Chief Secretary post.
Administrative Sleight of Hand
Experts view this as a rare bureaucratic maneuver, allowing the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led Congress government to assert control over state administration while keeping the Chief Secretary post formally vacant. By elevating a parallel position to Chief Secretary-equivalent status, the state sidesteps the Centre’s influence over high-level postings, a sensitive area that has seen tension between the state and Union governments in recent years.
An Assertion of State Authority
The decision comes after weeks of speculation following Prabodh Saxena’s extended tenure. Analysts say it reflects the state government’s intent to strengthen its administrative autonomy. With Sanjay Gupta, the senior-most officer of the state cadre, now holding Chief Secretary-equivalent status, the state government signals both stability and assertiveness in its bureaucratic leadership.
This move also highlights the growing trend of innovative administrative strategies being used by state governments to manage top-level postings amidst Centre-State negotiations and approvals.
Who Is IAS Sanjay Gupta?
Sanjay Gupta, an IAS officer of the 1988 Himachal Pradesh cadre, was currently the Chairman of the Himachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board. He has previously served as Chairman of the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board (HPSEBL) and has held additional charge as Chairman of the HP Pollution Control Board. Gupta holds a Diploma in Management and a degree in Civil Engineering, and is fluent in English and Hindi.
Looking Ahead
Sanjay Gupta’s appointment is expected to bring continuity and experience to the administrative apparatus of Himachal Pradesh. While the Chief Secretary post remains formally vacant, Gupta’s enhanced role ensures that key decisions and governance processes remain under experienced leadership, directly overseen by the Chief Minister.
