Shimla: In a significant administrative development in Himachal Pradesh, senior-most IPS officer Shyam Bhagat Negi has been given additional charge as Acting Director General of Police (DGP) of the state for nine days, from March 23 to March 31, 2026, just days before his retirement. Simultaneously, Himachal cadre IAS officer Arindam Chaudhary has been appointed as Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Steel under the central staffing scheme.
The two appointments, notified on Friday, are being seen as politically and administratively significant amid ongoing debates around police functioning and wider bureaucratic reshuffling in the state.
Shyam Bhagat Negi to Head Himachal Police Till March 31
Additional Charge of DGP and Vigilance Chief
The Himachal Pradesh government has entrusted Shyam Bhagat Negi with additional charge of Director General of Police and Director General of the State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau.
He will hold both positions from March 23 to March 31, 2026.
Currently, Negi is serving as Additional Chief Secretary, Social Justice and Empowerment in the state government.
Nine-Day Tenure Before Retirement
What makes this appointment unusual is its extremely short duration.
Negi is scheduled to retire on March 31, 2026, meaning he will lead the Himachal Pradesh police force for only nine days before superannuation.
Read also: CAPF Bill 2026 Reserves 50% IG Posts for IPS Officers, Cites Union-State Coordination as Key Reason
Ashok Tewari on Leave, Charge to Return on April 1
The present DGP, Ashok Tewari, has proceeded on leave during this period.
Officials said he will resume charge as DGP and head of the Vigilance Bureau from April 1.
Thus, Negi’s appointment is a temporary arrangement during Tewari’s absence.
Appointment Gains Significance Amid Political Heat in Assembly
Timing Linked to Ongoing Legislative Debate
The timing of the appointment has attracted attention because it came shortly after BJP MLA Satpal Singh Satti raised questions inside the Himachal legislative assembly regarding the handling of drug abuse issues and criticised the functioning of the current police leadership.
Though officially linked to leave arrangements, the move is being viewed by many observers as politically sensitive.
Seniority Principle Returns to Centre Stage
Earlier, in May, the Himachal government had prepared a panel of three names for the DGP post:
• Shyam Bhagat Negi
• Ashok Tewari
• Rakesh Agarwal
Although Ashok Tewari was later given additional charge, Negi’s current appointment is being seen as recognition of seniority at the final stage of service.
Who Is Shyam Bhagat Negi?
Senior IPS Officer from Kinnaur
Shyam Bhagat Negi belongs to the 1990 batch of the Himachal Pradesh cadre and is a native of Kinnaur district.
He is widely regarded as a disciplined, honest and upright officer with deep experience in both state policing and central administration.
Long Central Deputation Career
Negi spent several years on central deputation and held several important assignments in New Delhi.
Cabinet Secretariat
From 2022 to 2025, he served as Special Secretary and Additional Secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat.
During this tenure, he was also empanelled for Secretary-equivalent positions at the Government of India level.
Ministry of Coal
Before that, he served as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Coal.
Wildlife Crime Control Bureau
He also held the post of Joint Director and later Additional Director in the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau under the Ministry of Environment, where he worked on wildlife law enforcement.
Returned to Himachal in 2025
Negi returned to the Himachal Pradesh cadre in July 2025 after central deputation.
At that time, strong speculation emerged that he could become the regular DGP.
Instead, he was posted as Additional Chief Secretary, Social Justice and Empowerment on a non-cadre post.
Seen as Officer to Restore Order
His return to the state had coincided with turbulence in the police department after the retirement of former DGP Atul Verma and subsequent developments involving the Vimal Negi case, which was later handed over to the CBI.
Officials and observers viewed his presence as a stabilising factor because of his seniority and administrative credibility.
IAS Arindam Chaudhary Appointed Deputy Secretary in Ministry of Steel
Four-Year Central Deputation Approved
Alongside the police appointment, IAS officer Arindam Chaudhary has been appointed as Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Steel.
His appointment has been approved under the central staffing scheme for four years.
Present Posting in Himachal Pradesh
Currently, Arindam Chaudhary is serving as Director (Personnel and Finance) in Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited.
Must Join Within Three Weeks
Under central staffing rules, he is required to assume charge in Delhi within three weeks.
Officials note that failure to join within the stipulated time may invite disciplinary consequences under central deputation norms.
Importance of Posting
The Ministry of Steel is one of the Centre’s core industrial ministries dealing with policy, PSU coordination and steel sector growth.
His appointment is being seen as another important placement for Himachal cadre officers at the Centre.
Why These Appointments Matter
Administrative and Political Significance
The simultaneous appointments of a senior-most IPS officer just before retirement and a mid-career IAS officer to a central ministry reflect both administrative balancing and cadre positioning.
Experience at State and Centre
While Negi brings over three decades of policing and strategic administrative experience, Arindam Chaudhary represents the next generation of Himachal cadre officers moving into policy roles in Delhi.
Short Tenure, High Symbolism
Although Negi’s tenure lasts only nine days, it carries symbolic importance because it places the senior-most officer formally at the top of the police hierarchy before retirement.
