Shimla, Sept 12,
The appointment of a new Chairman for the Himachal Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (HPERC) has stirred controversy, with a petition filed seeking review of the Vigilance Clearance Certificate granted to Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena, IAS, one of the contenders for the post.
In a representation to the State government (Secretary, MPP & Power), petitioner Atul Sharma of Shimla alleged that the clearance granted to Saxena—who is currently serving on a six-month extension as Chief Secretary till September 30, 2025—was issued in violation of the October 9, 2024 guidelines of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions.
The petition argues that the clearance is “defective†as it overlooks the fact that Saxena is an accused in a pending case under the Prevention of Corruption Act, being adjudicated by a Special Judge at Rouse Avenue, New Delhi. Official records also show that Saxena was granted permanent exemption from appearing in person during trial proceedings, owing to his administrative commitments. The petitioner contended that such factors should have been duly considered before allowing him to contest for the sensitive regulatory post.
The state government had invited applications for the HPERC Chairman’s position through an advertisement issued on August 14, 2025, and the seat has remained vacant since. Given the crucial role of HPERC in Himachal Pradesh’s power sector, Saxena’s candidature has drawn heightened attention. The petitioner urged that, “in the interest of law and justice,†the Vigilance Clearance issued on October 9, 2024, be reviewed.
Also read:Â https://himachalscape.com/hc-summons-records-on-chief-secretarys-extension-questions-public-interest-claim/
Meanwhile, the issue comes against the backdrop of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) already pending before the Himachal Pradesh High Court against Saxena’s service extension. The PIL, filed by the same petitioner, challenges the state government’s order of March 28, 2025, which extended Saxena’s tenure as Chief Secretary by six months despite a pending CBI chargesheet.
During the latest hearing details available with us, a division bench of Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia and Justice Ranjan Sharma directed the Centre and the state to produce complete records justifying the extension. The court specifically asked the Union Government to spell out the exact reasons and the nature of “public interest†cited while approving the extension.
The Union Government, in its reply, said the state’s request was accepted in view of public interest. However, the bench has sought clarity on the legal authority under which the approval was granted.
The twin developments—one over vigilance clearance and the other over service extension—have together pushed Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena’s tenure and candidature into the spotlight, making the final decision on HPERC Chairman’s appointment one to watch closely in the state’s administrative and political circles.
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