Shimla, May 26
Ending days of intense political speculation and legal debate, the Himachal Pradesh Government on Tuesday formally appointed senior IAS officer Sanjay Gupta as the regular Chief Secretary of the state.
A notification issued by the Department of Personnel, Appointment-I Section, stated that Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla had approved the appointment of Sanjay Gupta, IAS (HP:1988), as Chief Secretary to the Government of Himachal Pradesh with immediate effect “in public interest.”
Gupta was earlier serving as Additional Chief Secretary (Town and Country Planning and Housing) and had also been holding the additional charge of the office of Chief Secretary. His tenure in the officiating capacity was reportedly scheduled to expire on May 31, making the formal appointment significant amid ongoing administrative and political discussions.
The appointment comes despite a pending public interest litigation before the Himachal Pradesh High Court challenging his continuation on the state’s top bureaucratic post. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice G.S. Sandhawalia and Justice Bipin Chander Negi had recently issued notices to the state government, Union of India and Sanjay Gupta in CWPIL No. 44 of 2026 filed by petitioner Tilak Raj Sharma.
The petition alleged that three FIRs, including cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act, were pending against Gupta and raised questions regarding “institutional integrity” in appointments to sensitive constitutional and administrative offices. The matter is listed before the High Court on July 21.
The controversy surrounding Gupta’s elevation had also triggered political reactions in the state. CPI(M) had recently urged Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu not to grant regular appointment or extension to Gupta until the pending legal and vigilance-related matters were resolved.
However, the Congress government proceeded with the appointment, signalling its confidence in the senior bureaucrat despite the ongoing legal challenge and opposition criticism.
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The latest decision has once again brought into focus the long-standing debate in Himachal Pradesh over appointments of senior bureaucrats facing pending vigilance or criminal proceedings. Successive governments in the state, irrespective of political affiliation, have often faced criticism for elevating officers despite pending FIRs or investigations, while governments have consistently maintained that allegations alone cannot become grounds for denying appointments unless guilt is established.
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