Bringing Balance to Public Service: Himachal Mandates Fair Postings for Government Employees

In a move aimed at promoting fairness and accountability, the Himachal Pradesh government has made it compulsory for all government employees and officers to serve at least once in remote, rural, or tribal areas during their careers. This decision comes in response to strong observations by the Himachal Pradesh High Court, which highlighted concerns over favoritism and unequal posting practices.

Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena has issued clear instructions to all administrative secretaries and departmental heads to enforce this directive without exception. He emphasized that any failure to comply would lead to disciplinary action.

The directive stems from the High Court’s ruling in the case of Bharti Rathore vs. State of Himachal Pradesh, where the court criticized the repeated deployment of certain individuals to challenging locations while others consistently avoided such assignments. The court stressed the need for equitable treatment of all employees.

To ensure fairness, departments have been asked to review current posting patterns and make necessary adjustments. The government is also reinforcing the existing Comprehensive Guidelines for Transfer (CGP-2013), which already require one term of service in difficult areas.

In a step toward greater transparency, the state is exploring a digital tracking system to monitor postings and address grievances more efficiently—ensuring that public service truly serves all corners of Himachal Pradesh.