top-bureaucrats-eye-himachal-power-panel-chairman-post

The race has begun for the vacant post of Chairman of the Himachal Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (HPERC). At least 12 contenders, including serving and retired bureaucrats, are lobbying for the coveted position.

 

The selection committee will conduct interviews in Shimla on September 14 to shortlist names for the final appointment. The panel is headed by a retired High Court judge, while the Chairman of the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission is also a member.

 

The post fell vacant after DK Sharma, who was appointed in September 2020, completed his term. The HPERC has one Chairman and two members.

Among the top contenders are three senior bureaucrats — Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena, Chief Minister’s Chief Adviser Ram Subhag Singh, and Additional  Chief Secretary Sanjay Gupta. Gupta is currently serving as the Chief Managing Director of the HP State Electricity Board (HPSEB). Other bureaucrats, who are learnt to be also in the race, are Pankaj Rai, currently serving as Deputy Director at the PGI, Chandigarh.

 

Another name in the fray is Shashi Kant Joshi, who is already a member of the HPERC. Sources say several other applicants are engineers from different fields.

 

Since Saxena himself is an applicant, he will remain disassociated from the selection process, even though the Chief Secretary is usually a member of the committee. Saxena, who was due to retire on March 31, was granted a six-month extension and has now applied for the top position of the power panel. The possibility of him receiving another extension cannot be ruled out. It remains to be seen whether he will continue as Chief Secretary or opt for a post-retirement assignment. If Saxena is considered, the race for the Chief Secretary’s post will intensify.

 

Ram Subhag Singh, a 1987-batch IAS officer and former Chief Secretary, retired on July 31, 2023, and was soon after appointed as Adviser to the Chief Minister. He continues on the post with an extension. Sanjay Gupta, a 1988-batch IAS officer, was superseded in the Chief Secretary’s appointment and is keen to secure the HPERC role. He is due to retire in May next year.