Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh government has appointed Pankaj Rai, a 2014-batch IAS officer of the Himachal Pradesh cadre, as the new Chairperson of the Himachal Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (HPERC).
The appointment notification was issued by the Department of Multipurpose Power Projects (MPP) and Power on November 10, 2026, following a direction from the Himachal Pradesh High Court to complete the selection process by that date.
According to the notification, Rai will hold the position for five years or until he attains the age of 65, whichever is earlier. His tenure will begin when he formally assumes charge after being relieved from his present assignment as Deputy Director (Administration) at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh.
Why Was Pankaj Rai’s Appointment Delayed?
Rai’s appointment follows a prolonged dispute over the selection of the HPERC Chairperson.
The selection committee had recommended a panel comprising Pankaj Rai and Rajiv Sood on September 14, 2025. However, the state government subsequently rejected the recommendations through a decision dated September 16, 2025, followed by a notification issued on September 30, 2025.
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Rai challenged the government’s decision before the Himachal Pradesh High Court through a writ petition.
On October 28, 2026, a Division Bench of Justices Vivek Singh Thakur and Bhupesh Sharma allowed his petition, setting aside the government’s decision and directing it to complete the appointment process on the basis of the selection committee’s recommendations by November 10, 2026.
The court held that the government’s rejection of the panel was arbitrary and that it could not substitute its assessment for the statutory selection committee’s evaluation of the candidates.
Who Is Pankaj Rai?
Pankaj Rai is a 2014-batch IAS officer of the Himachal Pradesh cadre. Before joining the IAS, he served in the Himachal Administrative Services (HAS), having entered the state administrative service in 2000.
He has held several administrative and departmental assignments in Himachal Pradesh, including district-level positions, municipal administration, health and education.
Educational Qualifications and Professional Background
Rai holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA in Finance.
Before entering government service, he worked as a Senior Engineer with Ambuja Cement Ltd. from May 1993 to June 1998. He subsequently served as an Assistant Engineer with the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board from June 1998 to October 2000.
He cleared the Himachal Pradesh Administrative Services examination and underwent HAS training between November 2000 and August 2001.
Previous Postings and Administrative Experience
According to the career details submitted by Rai before the Himachal Pradesh High Court, his administrative journey includes the following assignments:
- Assistant Commissioner-cum-Block Development Officer, Pooh: His first administrative posting after completing HAS training in August 2001.
- Sub-Divisional Magistrate: Served in different subdivisions of Himachal Pradesh between July 2002 and February 2008.
- Additional Director, Information Technology: Held the position from March 2008 to February 2009.
- SDM, Hamirpur: Served from February 2009 to May 2012.
- Additional District Magistrate, Mandi: Held the post from May 2012 to November 2014.
- Commissioner, Municipal Corporation Shimla: First served from November 2014 to April 2017, and later returned to the position in July 2018.
- Managing Director, National Health Mission: Served from April 2017 to July 2018.
- Special Secretary (Health): Also held this responsibility during his administrative career.
- Deputy Commissioner, Lahaul-Spiti: Served from October 2020 to June 2021.
- Deputy Commissioner, Bilaspur: Held the post from June 2021 to February 2023.
- Special Secretary, Education: Served from March to December 2023.
- Deputy Director (Administration), PGIMER, Chandigarh: Took charge on December 18, 2023, and was serving in this position before his appointment as HPERC Chairperson.
At PGIMER, his responsibilities included administrative and service matters involving approximately 9,000 employees, institutional management, engineering projects and functioning as an appellate authority under the Right to Information Act.
About the Himachal Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission
The Himachal Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission is a statutory regulatory body established to oversee the electricity sector in the state.
It functions under the Electricity Act, 2003, and deals with matters including electricity tariff regulation, regulatory oversight and the promotion of efficient electricity-sector policies.
As Chairperson, Rai will lead the state-level regulatory body responsible for exercising these statutory functions.
