Two senior IAS officers from the state got a Central appointment today. As a result, the paucity of bureaucrats and the burden on other officers would increase.
The Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) approved the posting of Maneesh Garg (1996 batch) as Deputy Election Commissioner in the Election Commission of India (ECI). Maneesh was at present the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Himachal. The ACC also approved the posting of Amandeep Garg (1999 batch) as Additional Secretary in the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Amandeep was at present serving as Principal Secretary (Public Works, Personnel and Forest).
More than six other officers are waiting for the NOC from the state government to proceed on Central deputation. Considering the shortage of officers, the state government has so far withheld the grant of the NOC to these officers, who are keen to move to the Centre or home state.
115 IAS officers are serving in Himachal against a cadre strength of 153. Kamlesh Kumar Pant (1993 batch) is due to return from Central posting. He is serving as Chairperson, of the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority in the Department of Pharmaceuticals.
Those who had applied for Central deputation include Amandeep Garg, Principal Secretary (Personnel and Forest); Maneesh Garg, Chief Electoral Officer; Rohan Thakur, Managing Director of the HRTC; Manasi Sahai Thakur, Director of Tourism and Civil Aviation; Yunus, Principal Secretary, Excise and Taxation; Pritayu Mandal, Secretary, Rural Development and A Shainamol.
Ashutosh Garg, who was posted as Special Secretary (Personnel), has already proceeded on Central deputation as Private Secretary to Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare JP Nadda.
Moreover, several senior IAS officers are due to retire later this year.
