Shimla, June 1: In a significant bureaucratic reshuffle, the Himachal Pradesh government on Monday handed over the additional charge of Chief Secretary to senior IAS officer Kamlesh Kumar Pant (1993 batch), effectively ending the full charge arrangement held by Chief Secretary Sanjay Gupta, whose continuation at the helm had triggered a major political and administrative controversy.
According to a notification issued by the Department of Personnel, Pant, who is presently serving as Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue)-cum-Financial Commissioner (Revenue), Additional Chief Secretary (Forest, Home and Vigilance), and Chairman of the Himachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board, will now also hold the additional charge of the post of Chief Secretary with immediate effect.
The move comes against the backdrop of a pending Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Himachal Pradesh High Court concerning corruption-related allegations against Sanjay Gupta.
The government's earlier decision to entrust Gupta with the full charge of Chief Secretary had drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties and sections of civil society, who questioned the propriety of placing an officer facing judicial scrutiny in the state's top bureaucratic position.
Political circles in Shimla had witnessed intense debate over the issue, with the matter also becoming a subject of public discussion and legal scrutiny.
The latest order is being viewed in administrative and political circles as an attempt by the government to defuse the controversy while ensuring continuity in governance through one of the state's most senior and experienced officers.
Pant, known for handling key portfolios including Revenue, Home, Vigilance and Forests, is regarded as a seasoned administrator with extensive experience in state governance.
His elevation to the additional charge of Chief Secretary is expected to bring stability to the bureaucracy at a time when the government faces increasing scrutiny over governance and administrative decisions.
The development is likely to have wider political ramifications, with opposition parties expected to claim vindication for raising questions over Gupta's appointment, while the government may project the move as a routine administrative arrangement made in the public interest.
