Sanjay Gupta, a 1988 batch IAS officer, who is the seniormost officer of Himachal cadre, has been given the additional charge of Chief Secretary. He has been given this responsibility with immediate effect along with the post of Additional Chief Secretary (Town and Country Planning and Housing). Sanjay Gupta is slated to retire on May 31, 2026.
The post fell vacant on September 30, 2025 after Prabodh Saxena retired from the post of chief secretary. Saxena, after retirement, has been appointed as chairman of Himachal Pradesh Electricity Board for three years.
The government has announced the transfer and new responsibilities of three senior IAS officers, including Sanjay Gupta.
At the same time another contender of the post of chief secretary, 1993 batch IAS Kamlesh Kumar Pant has been given the charge of Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue). He has also been given the responsibility of the posts of Financial Commissioner (Revenue), Additional Chief Secretary (Forest, Home and Vigilance), Financial Commissioner (Appeals) and Chairman of the State Pollution Control Board.
1994 batch IAS Omkar Chand Sharma has been appointed as Additional Chief Secretary (Tribal Development). He has also been given the additional charge of Chairman-cum-Managing Director of Ropeway and Rapid Transport System Development Corporation Limited, Shimla.
Long wait for Sanjay Gupta
Interestingly, Sanjay Gupta has been a contender to become the chief secretary in past also. During the tenure of the previous BJP government, his batch mate RD Dhiman was made chief secretary, while Sanjay Gupta was senior to him.
After this, Prabodh Saxena of 1990 batch was made Chief Secretary on the retirement of Dhiman. Now Sanjay Gupta has got the additional charge of Chief Secretary for the first time.
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