HC reshuffles law Secy Rajeev Bali after state government withholds charge
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Shimla, Sep 10
The Himachal Pradesh High Court has reshuffled senior judicial officer Rajeev Bali, days after his appointment as Law Secretary to the state government failed to translate into him taking charge of the Law Department.
According to a notification issued by the High Court on September 9, 2026, Bali, a member of the Himachal Pradesh Judicial Service in the cadre of District Judges/Additional District Judges, has been recalled with immediate effect from his posting as Law Secretary-cum-Principal Secretary (Law) to the Government of Himachal Pradesh.
The notification states that his services have been placed at the disposal of the Chief Justice of the High Court for being posted as one of the Registrars of the Himachal Pradesh High Court.
The development comes against the backdrop of the State government not assigning Bali the charge of the Law Department despite the High Court order/decision under which he had recently been posted as Law Secretary.
The reshuffle is being viewed as an indication of the High Court taking cognisance of the unusual situation in which an officer posted as Law Secretary was not given charge of the department by the government.
Bali’s movement from the State Secretariat back to the High Court assumes significance as the Law Secretary-cum-Principal Secretary (Law) is an important functionary in the government’s legal and litigation machinery, particularly in matters concerning representation of the State before courts and coordination with its legal advisers.
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The High Court notification, however, does not assign any reason for the reshuffle or make any adverse observation against the State government. It simply states that the decision has been taken “in the interest of administration.”
Bali will now serve in the High Court establishment as a Registrar, with his services being placed directly at the disposal of the Chief Justice.
The episode nevertheless highlights the apparent institutional friction over the posting and assumption of charge of the Law Secretary—an issue that had attracted attention in legal and administrative circles in the state.
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