Panchkula: The Haryana government has granted a special exemption to senior IAS officer Sudhir Rajpal, allowing him to continue exercising his powers as an Administrative Secretary until November 15, 2026, despite his impending retirement.
According to the government order, the exemption has been granted in view of administrative exigencies. Rajpal, a 1990-batch Haryana cadre IAS officer, is currently serving as Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) and holds key portfolios, including Home, Jails, Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Administration of Justice, Environment, Forests and Wildlife, and Finance and Planning.
The decision exempts him from the state government’s instructions issued on May 26, 2022, which restrict the decision-making powers of Administrative Secretaries and Heads of Departments during the final two months before retirement.
Rajpal is scheduled to retire on November 30, 2026. Under the exemption, he will be able to exercise his Administrative Secretary powers until November 15.
What Is the Haryana Government’s 2022 Order?
The Haryana government issued instructions on May 26, 2022, to regulate the exercise of administrative powers by senior officers approaching retirement.
Under the instructions, Administrative Secretaries and Heads of Departments were restricted from taking final decisions on specified critical matters during the last two months of their service. These included promotions, transfers, new tenders and fresh recruitment.
The objective was to promote administrative transparency and impartiality and prevent arbitrary decisions or potential irregularities in the final days before an officer’s retirement.
The special exemption granted to Rajpal allows him to continue exercising his Administrative Secretary powers beyond the period in which the general restrictions would otherwise apply. The exemption is specifically stated to remain in force until November 15, 2026.
Who Is Sudhir Rajpal?
Sudhir Rajpal is a senior Indian Administrative Service officer of the 1990 batch belonging to the Haryana cadre. Over a career spanning more than three decades, he has held several important administrative positions across the state government, covering district administration, finance, taxation, education, healthcare and other sectors.
Born on November 25, 1966, Rajpal entered the IAS through the Union Public Service Commission’s Civil Services Examination. His educational qualifications include a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Economics, management studies and a postgraduate qualification in public policy and management from Princeton University in the United States, according to the biographical information provided.
He has served in more than 38 postings during his career, including assignments as Deputy Commissioner, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Managing Director of state bodies, Excise and Taxation Commissioner, Director General and Principal Secretary.
One of his earlier significant assignments was as Additional Deputy Commissioner in Gurgaon, where he served for approximately four years and nine months.
Sudhir Rajpal’s Key Administrative Responsibilities
Mr Rajpal has held several senior positions in Haryana’s administrative structure. Before taking charge of his current portfolios, he served as Additional Chief Secretary for departments including Health and Family Welfare, School Education, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, and Civil Aviation.
In January 2026, he was assigned the Home, Jails, CID and Administration of Justice portfolios. These departments involve important responsibilities relating to internal security, prison administration, criminal investigation and coordination of justice-related matters.
He also holds charge of the Environment, Forests and Wildlife Department, as well as Finance and Planning.
His responsibilities span several crucial areas of governance, including law and order, public administration, environmental management and the state’s financial planning.
Why the Exemption Matters
The exemption comes at a time when Rajpal is approaching the end of his service and continues to oversee several significant portfolios.
The government’s May 2022 instructions were designed to place restrictions on certain important administrative decisions during the final two months before retirement. The latest order creates a specific exception for Rajpal, allowing him to continue exercising Administrative Secretary powers until November 15.
The decision is significant because of the sensitivity and breadth of the departments under his charge. However, the exemption should be understood within the scope of the government order; it does not, by itself, establish that any particular pending decision has been approved or that all restrictions under the 2022 instructions have been removed.
IAS Rajpal is due to retire from the IAS on November 30, 2026.
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