In a surprise move, Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena, who was due to retire on March 31, 2025, has been given six months extension.
The development took everyone by surprise as the Himachal IAS Officers Association had organised a farewell for Saxena tonight. It was at the farewell dinner that Saxena himself broke the news about getting a six-month extension.
Sources said that the letter granting six months extension to Saxena had been received from the Department of Personnel and Training, Government of India. The cap and muffler, which was to be presented to honour Saxena after the Cabinet meeting held late in the evening after the Assembly session, was also sent back.
With this new development the race for the new Chief Secretary will come to a halt, at least for the time being.
Saxena, a 1990 batch officer was appointed Chief Secretray on January 2, 2023.
