Shimla, Oct 26,
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu addressed the media today, clearing the air on a recent government notification that sparked an online controversy. The notification, widely misconstrued on social media as a blanket decision to abolish vacant posts, was clarified by the Chief Minister as targeting only non-essential positions that have been vacant for over two years.
Speaking to journalists after returning from Delhi, CM Sukhu explained that the notification, issued by the Finance Department, was misinterpreted, leading to public unrest. “The intent is not to indiscriminately freeze all posts,” Sukhu stated. “We are prioritizing filling essential and functional positions while phasing out posts that have been left vacant and are no longer relevant to current departmental needs.”
The Chief Minister emphasized that obsolete roles, such as typists, which are no longer needed due to technological advancements, will be replaced by more relevant positions like clerks and Junior Office Assistants (IT). Additionally, each department has been asked to identify essential roles that will be prioritized in the upcoming 2025-26 budget to ensure a more efficient allocation of resources.
CM Sukhu pointed out that the move is not unprecedented. Similar actions were taken by previous administrations, including during the BJP-led government under former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal in 2012. He reiterated that freezing or abolishing outdated posts is a routine administrative procedure and should not be viewed as unique to the current Congress-led government.
In light of the controversy, Sukhu called on the public to rely on official clarifications rather than partial or incorrect information circulating on social media, which can easily create confusion.
While CM Sukhu sought to clarify the government’s position, the issue has already drawn criticism from various quarters, including political opposition and civil groups. Former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur addressed the media in response to CM Sukhu’s statement. Thakur questioned the timing and intent of the clarification, claiming that the notification had been backdated to October 23, despite being officially issued on October 26.
Thakur criticized the government for creating administrative chaos, saying, “This is the first time in Himachal Pradesh’s history that such a mess has been created over a simple administrative notification. It seems that the Congress government is working not to reform the system but to dismantle it.”
He further alleged that the government was making hasty decisions without thorough planning and accused the Congress-led administration of breaking its pre-election promises. “They had promised to fill 65,000 vacant posts and provide one lakh jobs within a year, but after two years in power, they haven’t fulfilled even one of their promises. Instead, they are eliminating posts,” Thakur said, labeling the Congress government as “zero performance.”
Thakur also took a swipe at the Chief Minister and his deputy, claiming that they treat the media as if no one else can understand government notifications. “It appears that only two people in the state have all the knowledge— the Chief Minister and Deputy CM. We, in the opposition, are constantly dismissed. I’ve raised these issues multiple times in the Vidhan Sabha, but the Chief Minister continues to act as if no one else understands.”
On the other hand, CM Sukhu highlighted that the government is currently filling 19,103 posts across various departments. In education alone, 5,861 positions are being filled under a batch-wise quota system. He also emphasized ongoing efforts to address staffing shortages in critical sectors like health, police, forest, Jal Shakti, and PWD, ensuring that essential services are not disrupted.
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