Shimla, May 24: The Himachal Pradesh unit of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] has strongly opposed the state government’s reported move to grant service extension and regularise the appointment of senior IAS officer Sanjay Gupta as the state’s Chief Secretary.
In a statement issued on Saturday, CPI(M) state secretary Sanjay Chauhan questioned the government’s “zero tolerance against corruption” stance, alleging that an officer facing multiple corruption-related cases and judicial scrutiny was being considered for the state’s top bureaucratic post.
Chauhan referred to an ongoing matter before the Himachal Pradesh High Court — CWP-PIL No. 44/2026, Tilak Raj vs State Government — in which notices were reportedly issued on May 19 to the state government, the Centre and Sanjay Gupta over concerns linked to “institutional integrity”.
According to CPI(M), the petition mentions three pending FIRs and two criminal references against the officer. The party argued that appointing him as a regular Chief Secretary while judicial proceedings are underway raises serious concerns about administrative transparency and institutional credibility.
“The post of Chief Secretary is the highest administrative office in the state and should only be held by an officer with an unimpeachable record and high moral standards,” Chauhan said.
The Left party further alleged that Gupta’s name had surfaced in controversies related to alleged benami land transactions in Chester Hills and irregularities in contracts linked to the Himachal Pradesh Power Transmission Corporation Limited (HPPTCL). CPI(M) claimed complaints regarding transformer procurement worth around ₹71 crore and transmission line works worth nearly ₹50 crore had already been sent to vigilance authorities for investigation.
Chauhan also referred to a 2009 case in which cash was allegedly recovered from Gupta’s vehicle, leading to his arrest and suspension at the time. He claimed the matter has now also been taken note of by the High Court.
CPI(M) has demanded that the state government immediately withdraw the process of granting service extension and regularising Gupta’s appointment as Chief Secretary. The party also urged the Chief Minister to remove him from the post and initiate legal proceedings against him.
The state government has not yet issued an official response to the allegations.
