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Significant Transfers in Himachal Pradesh's Bureaucracy

S Gopal Puri
Shimla: A recent government notification dated August 25 has sparked lively discussions within the bureaucratic and political spheres of Himachal Pradesh, following the reassignment of two IAS officers to prominent roles in the power sector and the revenue and cooperative institutions in Kangra.

As per the order from the Department of Personnel, which was issued based on recommendations from the Civil Services Board, Sandeep Kumar, an IAS officer from the 2010 batch, has been relieved from his position as Managing Director of the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Ltd. (HPSEBL) in Shimla. He will now serve as the Settlement Officer for the Kangra Division in Dharamshala, while also taking on the additional responsibility of Managing Director for the Kangra Central Cooperative Bank Ltd.

Meanwhile, Aditya Negi, a 2013-batch IAS officer, who previously held the position of Settlement Officer in Kangra and also managed the Kangra Central Cooperative Bank, has been appointed as the new Managing Director of HPSEBL in Shimla.

This notification, signed by Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena and circulated to relevant authorities, has raised eyebrows due to the timing and nature of the portfolio changes, particularly concerning the electricity board and the settlement office in Kangra.

Speculation has arisen regarding the motivations behind these transfers, especially following a local news report that highlighted concerns about the HPSEBL’s operations, including questions raised by the board’s chairman regarding the MD’s attendance and project evaluations.

Additionally, some insiders suggest that the political affiliations of one of the officers with a leader not aligned with the current ruling party may have influenced these changes. However, senior government officials have refrained from commenting, labeling the situation as an 'internal administrative matter.'