Major Bureaucratic Shake-Up in Himachal: 39 IAS and HAS Officers Get New Roles
In a significant administrative overhaul, the Himachal Pradesh government on Friday transferred and reassigned 39 senior officers, including 17 IAS officers and 22 Himachal Pradesh Administrative Service (HAS) officers, in a move aimed at streamlining governance and strengthening key departments.
Among the prominent changes, Additional Chief Secretary Onkar Sharma, who currently handles Tribal Development, has been given the additional responsibility of the Transport Department. Meanwhile, RD Nazeem has been shifted from Food, Civil Supplies, Transport and Industries to take charge of the crucial Home, Vigilance and Power departments.
Principal Secretary Devesh Kumar will now oversee Finance, Planning and Statistics in addition to his Urban Development portfolio, while also holding the charge of Animal Husbandry. Principal Secretary MS Sudha Devi has been assigned the Forest and Industries departments.
Several secretaries have also been entrusted with new responsibilities. Priya Basu Ingty will now head Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, while Ashish Singmar has been given additional charge of Health and Family Welfare alongside Digital Technology and Governance.
The reshuffle also saw key departmental appointments. Yunus, who was serving as Director of Industries, has been elevated as Secretary (State Taxes and Excise), while Kangra Divisional Commissioner Sandeep Kumar takes over as Secretary (Tourism and Civil Aviation). Amarjeet Singh has been handed additional responsibility for Urban Development along with Town and Country Planning and Housing.
In other notable postings, Chief Minister’s Principal Private Secretary Vivek Bhatia has received additional charge as Director of Industries. Rakesh Kumar Prajapati moves from the Energy Department to become Director of Tourism and Civil Aviation.
Health Department Special Secretary Dr Ashwani Kumar Sharma has been appointed Commissioner of State Taxes and Excise, while Vivek Chandel takes over as Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation, Baddi.
Madhu Chaudhary, Registrar of CSK Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University, Palampur, has been posted as Special Secretary (Health and Family Welfare). Om Kant Thakur has been transferred as Director-cum-Warden of Fisheries.
Among other important changes, Abhishek Kumar Garga, currently Additional Deputy Commissioner of Hamirpur, has been appointed Managing Director of the Himachal Pradesh State Industrial Development Corporation, while Gursimar Singh moves to the post of Director of Technical Education.
On the HAS side, Sachin Kanwal has been appointed Commissioner of the Shimla Municipal Corporation. Bhupender Kumar, who held the post earlier, has been shifted as Managing Director of the General Industries Corporation (GIC) Ltd.
The government also reshuffled several district-level positions. Gian Sagar Negi has been posted as Additional District Magistrate (Protocol), Shimla, while Jyoti Rana moves to Himachal Pradesh University as Registrar. Ekta Kapta has been appointed ADM, Sirmaur, with Liaq Ram Sharma taking over as Managing Director of HIMFED.
Apart from these changes, 16 other HAS officers, largely serving as Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs), have also been given fresh assignments as part of the state’s latest administrative reshuffle.
