Himachal High Court Seeks Reply on Plea Challenging Appointment of Chief Secretary Sanjay Gupta

Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh High Court has issued notices to the state government and IAS officer Sanjay Gupta on a petition challenging his appointment as Chief Secretary of the state.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia and Justice B.C. Negi passed the order after a preliminary hearing on a petition filed by Tilak Raj Sharma.

According to the petition, the state government had assigned additional charge of the Chief Secretary’s post to Sanjay Gupta through a decision taken on October 1, 2025. The petitioner alleged that three FIRs, including cases related to the Prevention of Corruption Act, are already registered against the officer.

The petition also referred to the revised vigilance clearance guidelines issued on October 9, 2024, which state that an officer’s vigilance status must be considered before appointment to sensitive positions.

The High Court was further informed that the Supreme Court, in several judgments, has recognised the post of Chief Secretary as a highly sensitive constitutional and administrative position.

The court has now sought responses from the state government and Sanjay Gupta in the matter.