First time in Himachal Pradesh history: No regular appointments on all 3 top administrative posts

For the first time in Himachal’s administrative history, the three highest positions in governance - the Chief Secretary (CS), the Director General of Police (DGP), and the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, who is the Head of Forest Force (PCCF HoFF) - are all being held by officers with additional charge rather than regular appointments. According to the senior bureaucrats, this practice may not stand the test of law, if challenged. Following the retirement of former Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena, the state government appointed Sanjay Gupta as Acting Chief Secretary on an interim basis. The DGP’s post, vacated by Dr. Atul Verma, has been held by Ashok Tiwari with additional charge for over five months, while Sanjay Sood continues to officiate as PCCF–HoFF since the retirement of Pawanesh Kumar.