Sunil Chadha
Shimla: Following disciplinary action against three senior officials linked to the controversial Vimal Negi death probe, the Himachal Pradesh government is now preparing for a sweeping reshuffle in its administrative machinery.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu appears poised to tighten his grip on the bureaucracy, aiming to overhaul a system marred by allegations of inefficiency, misconduct and growing public mistrust, said sources.
The impending changes are expected to affect a wide spectrum of officers — from the Chief Minister’s Office to departmental heads, district administrators and senior IAS, IPS, HAS and HPS officers, some of whom have held the same post for long periods.
Crackdown rooted in Vimal Negi case fallout
The push for administrative reshuffling comes on the heels of revelations in the Vimal Negi case, where a fact-finding inquiry exposed harassment and pressure allegedly exerted by top officials on the now-deceased HPPCL Chief Engineer Vimal Negi.
Vimal Negi’s family had accused senior bureaucrats of forcing him into decisions that went against his judgement, ultimately leading to his emotional breakdown and mysterious death in March.
After the Himachal Pradesh High Court transferred the case to the CBI, the government faced criticism for lapses in internal oversight and delays in addressing complaints of workplace abuse. The disciplinary steps taken so far are being seen as a precursor to wider structural reform.
Transfers on the cards: Performance to dictate roles
Sources in the personnel department confirmed that a detailed transfer list was being prepared. Officers who have been in one department for unusually long periods will be rotated out. In some districts, Deputy Commissioners have already been changed and more reassignments are imminent.
The changes are not just routine but part of a strategic effort to install performance-based accountability, said a Congress insider. Officials with proven efficiency may be elevated to higher responsibilities, while those facing repeated complaints or delays in work will see their powers curtailed, he said.
Several officers handling multiple portfolios have flagged work overload, resulting in delays in file clearances. In response, the government plans to redistribute departments to ensure more balanced workloads and timely execution of decisions.
Fiscal strain accelerates push for reforms
Himachal Pradesh is currently navigating a serious financial crunch and Chief Minister Sukhu has been vocal about the need for administrative efficiency to push the state towards fiscal recovery and self-reliance.
The government has launched multiple initiatives aimed at economic stabilisation and infrastructure development, but bureaucratic sluggishness is reportedly hampering implementation.
To remedy this, the CM is expected to reassign departments critical to revenue generation, infrastructure and public service delivery to officers with a track record of swift and transparent execution.
