Himachal Chief Minister Sukhu’s Principal Secretary Bharat Khera gets posting in central government, notification issued

The Newz Radar

SHIMLA: Senior Himachal Pradesh-cadre IAS officer Bharat Harbanslal Khera, who is Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, has been appointed in the central government.
Khera, a 1995-batch officer, has been appointed Additional Secretary in the Department of Consumer Affairs in the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, according to a notification issued by the Secretariat of the Appointment Committee of the Union Cabinet.

With Bharat Khera proceeding on central deputation, it will be a challenge for the state government to find a suitable officer for the post of Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister. At present, the administrative secretaries of the state have an average of five to six departments.

Khera alone is handling the responsibility of about 10 departments. Apart from General Administration Department, Secretariat Administration Department, Energy Department, Electricity Board, Public Works Department, Information and Public Relations Department, Tax and Excise Department and Parliamentary Affairs, he has the charge of Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister. With Khera going to Delhi, it is not going to be easy for the government to allocate these departments among the existing officers.

4 senior officers already on central deputation
At present, 11 IAS officers of Himachal cadre are on central deputation and of them four IAS officers are serving outside Himachal. Among them, Ali Raza Rizvi, who is second in seniority, is also out. KK Sanjay Murthy is on central deputation and is at the fourth position in seniority. Similarly, KK Pant, sixth in seniority, and Anuradha Thakur, seventh in seniority, are also on central deputation. Apart from them, seven other officers are also serving outside on deputation. Now, Bharat Khera will be another senior officer going on central deputation.