Himachal Pradesh facing shortage of IAS officers, eight apply for Central deputation

Pratibha Chauhan

Shimla, July 9

There are 119 IAS officers serving in Himachal against a cadre strength of 153. Eight of the 119 IAS officers have applied for permission from the state government for Central deputation.

The state government is facing a shortage of IAS officers with many bureaucrats holding the charge of four or more departments. Six IAS officers will superannuate within the next one year.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu is expected to undertake a major administrative overhaul after the bypoll results are declared on July 13. The applications of the eight IAS officers, who want to proceed on Central deputation, are Amandeep Garg, Principal Secretary (Personnel and Forest); Maneesh Garg, Chief Electoral Officer; Ashutosh Garg, Special Secretary (Personnel); Rohan Thakur, Managing Director, HRTC; Manasi Sahai Thakur, Director, Tourism and Civil Aviation; Yunus, Principal Secretary (Excise and Taxation); Pritayu Mandal, Secretary, Rural Development; and A Shainamol.

Some IAS officers, whose Central deputation is over or nearing completion, are reluctant to return to the state. Some have already availed of an extension and are unlikely to return to the state in the immediate future. Moreover, a number of senior IAS officers of the Himachal cadre are due to retire later this year. These include Nisha Singh (1987 batch), who is serving as Adviser to the Himachal Government, is due to retire on November 30, 2024, while Ali Raza Rizvi (1988 batch), who is serving as Secretary, Department of Public Enterprises, Union Ministry of Heavy Industries, will superannuate on July 31, 2024.

K Sanjay Murthy, posted as Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Union Ministry of Education, will retire on December 31, 2024. Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena of the 1990 batch will retire on March 31, 2025.

Some not happy working in state govt

Many officers are keen on Central deputation because of family considerations while there are some who are not happy working in the state government and are looking for better avenues at the Centre. — Bureaucrat